article · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
Anaemia remains a frequently underdiagnosed condition among university students, especially those enrolled in health sciences. A cross-sectional investigation evaluated anaemia risk and its consequences on intellectual functioning and educational outcomes among 199 undergraduate students across medicine, public health, pharmacy, dentistry, and biomedical sciences. Data collection relied on structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and scoring tools examining risk factors, dietary habits, medical and menstrual histories, cognitive symptoms, estimated IQ, academic achievement, and attendance. Across all groups, findings revealed a moderate risk of anaemia and a statistically significant moderate adverse impact on cognitive performance and IQ scores. Symptom burden and poor dietary choices were the most common risk factors. Elevated anaemia risk was also linked to lower academic scores and reduced class attendance, indicating that addressing nutritional health is essential for sustaining student cognitive functioning and overall educational success.
Anaemia affects general physical health and directly impairs cognitive ability, learning capacity, and classroom attendance. Demonstrating that health science students experience these consequences highlights an overlooked obstacle to higher education success. Routine health checks and nutritional interventions could protect student well-being and academic attainment before performance declines.
The findings suggest a clear use case for student health services and university administration seeking targeted diagnostic screening tools and nutritional intervention programmes. Because this was an observational, cross-sectional study using questionnaire-based assessments, direct commercial solutions remain at an early concept stage. Future translation could involve developing integrated digital wellness screening apps or tailored institutional health services for university campuses.
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Background: Anemia is a common yet often under diagnosed condition among university students, particularly those in health sciences disciplines. It can adversely affect cognitive performance, academic achievement, and class attendance—critical components of student success. This study aimed to evaluate anemia risk and its potential effects on intellectual functioning and educational performance among undergraduate students in medical and health-related faculties. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 199 students from five faculties (Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences) across all academic years. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and domain-based scoring tools assessing anemia risk factors, dietary habits, menstrual and medical history, cognitive symptoms, IQ estimation, academic achievement, and attendance. Anthropometric data (height, weight, BMI) were also recorded. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and scoring interpretation models were used to categorize risk levels and impacts. Results: The majority of participants were from the fourth academic year (44.7%) and the Public Health faculty (32.7%). The average BMI across all faculties was within the normal range (mean = 23 kg/m²), though some variation was observed. Group-wise scoring indicated a moderate risk of anemia (mean = 13/40) and a moderate impact on cognitive performance and IQ (total score = 31–35/50 (P values < 0.05) across all groups. Symptom burden and poor dietary habits were the most frequently reported risk domains. Furthermore, cognitive and academic scores also associated with anemia risk, and some participants reported diminished attendance and performance (P< 0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights a concerning link between anemia and diminished cognitive, IQ, academic, and attendance outcomes among university students. The findings underscore the need for early screening, nutritional intervention, and educational support to mitigate the academic consequences of anemia. Integration of anemia assessment into student health services could promote both well-being and academic success.
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DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2026.31.2.2123
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