41% female, 23% male migrant students in Pune anaemic, vitamin deficient: Report

NEW DELHI: Around 41% female migrant students from rural Maharashtra were found to be anemic and vitamin deficient, the reports of the blood testing camp organised by Sahabhaag Welfare Foundation revealed. Although the sample size is not big enough to reach definitive conclusions, a significant number of 41% female, 23% male students have low hemoglobin (Hb) count.

Sahabhaag Welfare Foundation along with the Rashtra Seva Dal volunteers conducted a blood testing camp for migrant students from in Pune, Maharashtra. The health check-up report revealed vitamin deficiency in the form of macrocytic RBCs in many students. While the tests were conducted in February, the findings were recently published.

“A student on his own requested the HbA1c test and he was found to have type 1 diabetes. Another student requested a TSH test and she was diagnosed as a case of hyperthyroidism. She was treated by a reputed endocrinologist at concessional charges,” the official said.

Another student who fainted after blood collection was sent to DM Hospital, where she was treated in the neurology department at concessional charges.

Hemoglobin (Hb) or complete blood count (CBC) are not the only indicators of health, however, it gives a general idea on the health status of an individual. CBC test was only done for female students having Hb below 11 and male students having Hb below 12, or if any other parameter in CBC was out of range.

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How healthy are female migrant students?

A total of 579 students were tested, of them 215 are female and 364 are male. Ninety-five female students had normal reference range, while 120 had one or more parameters out of range, as per the report findings.

In the red blood cell (RBC) series, a severe low hemoglobin level of 11 and 12, indicating mild anemia, was found in 42 students. Thirty students had microcytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells are smaller than normal, common sy iron deficiency.

Usually, iron deficiency is suggestive of microcytic (small) RBCs. Most common causes of this are nutritional deficit, excessive menstrual bleeding or piles. Macrocytic RBCs are suggestive of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency and anisocytosis is often suggestive of combined deficiency, it said.

According to the findings, 90 out of 215 female students were anemic. Notably, only 10 had normal Hb with microcytic RBCs and 16 students had normal Hb with macrocytic RBCs.

In the white blood cell (WBC) series, high blood count was seen in 5 female students indicating bacterial infection and low count in 6 suggesting viral infection. Three students had low platelet count, which is suggestive of viral infection and rarely liver dysfunction.

23% migrant male students anemic

Out of the 364 male students, 241 had a normal hemoglobin level, however, 123 of them had one or more parameters out of range. Hb between 12 to 14 is considered ‘severe low’ in hemoglobin level for male. The blood test report revealed that 47 students had mild anemia.

The reports also found that 16 male students had microcytic anemia, 2 had normocytic anemia with anisocytosis, and 21 had macrocytic anemia. In total 23% of the male migrant students from rural Maharashtra are anemic. “Alcoholism is also a less common cause of macrocytic RBCs,” it said.