Literature Review: Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Anemia Among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Anemia among adolescent girls remains a persistent global health concern that significantly affects growth, cognitive function, and future maternal health. This review synthesizes 12 empirical studies (2020–2025) from Indonesia and comparable settings, and presents a comparative table summarizing prevalence, primary risk factors, and intervention outcomes across districts such as Bantul and OKU. Key determinants identified across the reviewed literature include inadequate iron intake, poor dietary diversity, menstrual disorders, low adherence to iron supplementation, insufficient knowledge of nutrition and health, and socioeconomic disparities. Findings from community-based studies in Bantul and Ogan Komering Ulu districts indicate that irregular menstrual cycles and poor nutritional status are strongly correlated with anemia, with odds ratios exceeding 4.0 in most analyses. Furthermore, literature reviews highlight the effectiveness of integrated approaches such as weekly iron supplementation, school-based nutrition education, and menstrual health management in reducing anemia prevalence. However, limitations persist, including low compliance rates with supplementation programs and insufficient biomarker-based differentiation between iron-deficiency anemia and other etiologies. The paper concludes that addressing adolescent anemia requires not only supplementation but also behavioral change strategies and socioeconomic interventions that improve dietary access, health literacy, and program adherence.