1Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India. Email: painfreepartha@gmail.com, pkadaksha@gmail.com
2Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, SRC, SASTRA (Deemed to be University), Kumbakonam, India
*Corresponding Author: M R Suchitra, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, SRC, SASTRA (Deemed to be University), Kumbakonam, India. Email: dietviji@yahoo.com
Received: 20th Oct, 2025; Revised: 16th Dec, 2025; Accepted: 15th Jan, 2026; Available Online: 15th Feb, 2026
Background: The health and well-being of nursing professionals are vital to the proper functioning of the healthcare system. Nurses face a stressful work environment, including rotating shifts, a heavy workload, and occupational stress, which may impair their nutritional status and health. Anemia, defined as a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, may cause weakness, fatigue, and decreased cognitive ability, which may impair work productivity.
Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among nursing personnel in a peripheral town in India and assess the demographic and occupational correlates of their hemoglobin levels.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 400 nursing personnel from various government and private healthcare institutions in the peripheral town. Ethical clearance was granted by the Institutional Ethics Committee (STH Ethics – IHEC 102-2023). A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the demographic and work-related characteristics and the presence of comorbidities. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed using an automated analyzer to measure the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 21, and descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation were used to assess the associations between the variables.
Results: The average age of participants was 30.4 years (SD: 9.8). The average hemoglobin level was recorded as 10.49 g/dL (SD: 1.75). Out of the total participants, 144 (36%) had hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL. Moreover, 23 (5.8%) had severe anemia, i.e., below 8 g/dL. This shows a high incidence of anemia among nursing professionals. An independent t-test comparing hemoglobin levels between government and private nurses showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Pearson correlation revealed a weak association between age and hemoglobin (r≈0.03, p > 0.05). A chi-square test assessing qualification and anemia prevalence was not significant (p > 0.05). Logistic regression also showed that age and workplace were not independent predictors of anemia in this cohort.
Conclusion: Anemia is still a major health issue among nursing professionals, which might be related to work stress and lifestyle. It is strongly recommended that interventions be implemented for the health and well-being of nursing professionals. This is the first study in South India in the recent years.
Keywords: nurses, hemoglobin, nutrition, anemia
How to cite this article: Parthasarathy S, Kadaksha P, Suchitra MR., Estimation of haemoglobin levels among nurses in a peripheral town- Kumbakonam Urban Rural Epidemiological Study – KURES 11..Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026; 16(2): 192-195; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.2.24
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None