Anaemia and its relation to physical and mental health of Indonesian adolescents

Summary

So far, limited research has been done to assess the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent in Indonesia and data on the relationship between anaemia and pubertal development indicators are scarce. The main objective of the PhD research is to comprehensively assess the association of adolescent anaemia with mental health disorders, with a focus on Indonesia. Secondary data from Indonesia Family Life Survey and National Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas) were used. In addition, primary longitudinal data were collected through two rounds data collection during COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. This PhD thesis consists of 4 research chapters and covers 3 topics: (1) the time trend of age at menarche, obesity and non-communicable diseases (2) maternal Hb concentration and cognitive function of their offspring at adolescent age, (3 and 4) pubertal development, anaemia, and mental health outcomes. Recommendations are given for how these issues may be addressed in Indonesia.