Relationship between Anaemia, caused from the Iron Deficiency, and Academic achievement among third grade high school female students

Problem Statement: Anemia caused from Iron deficiency is one of most wide-spread diseases in the world. Children in school age and specially in the age of adolescence will come to experience the danger of anaemia based on iron deficiency. In this age anaemia wil have a fast gowth. Adolescents' need to different foods, particularly iron, will increase but the need is much higher among females. Students with iron deficiency will get infected with microbes due to decrease of body strength. Intelligence Q will be lower. Learning abilities will then decrease during this condition and so will be with achievement. Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the anemia, due to iron deficiency, and academic achievement of female third grade high school students in mathematics and physics course. Research Methods: The study used survey method of data collection. The participants in this study were 46 female students at secondary schools in Garmsar city. Data was collected by performing test of anemia. The data was analyzed by using the Pearson product-moment correlation technique and T-test. Findings: A significantly positive relationship was found between the six factors of blood (FERITIN, SERUM IRON, MCV, MCH, HCT, HB) and academic achievement. A significant negative relationship was found between the three factors of blood deficiency (IRON BONDING, RDV, RETIC) and academic achievement. Results from T test revealed that achievement scores of students with anemia were much lower than healthy students. Conclusion: Anaemia caused from Iron deficiency is wide-spread among Iranian female students. This physiological problem will negatively affect learning and educational achievement. Iron deficiency is a mal-nutrition problem among students. Education experts should look for solutions. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Dr Zafer Bekirogullari.