Effectiveness of Ayurvedic Program in Managing Hair Loss Associated with Iron Deficiency Anemia among Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is an important public nutritional health problem. Severedepletion of serum iron levels leads to hair loss. Aim: This study was conducted to assess theeffectiveness of the Ayurvedic Program in managing hair loss associated with iron deficiency anemiaamong nursing students. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting: data were collectedfrom the Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of 145 nursingstudents who were diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and had hair loss. Tools: Four tools wereused to collect data: Tool (I): a structured interviewing questionnaire, Tool (II): the IRONIC-FFQ, Tool(III): a Hair Loss Questionnaire, and Tool (IV): Bio-physiological measurements. Results: The meanage of the female student participants was 18.64 ± 0.62 years. Post implementation of the Ayurvedicprogram, there was a significant improvement in the mean total knowledge level compared to before theAyurvedic program (23.46 ± 3.85 vs. 16.1 ± 2.40, respectively). Moreover, there were significantincreases in hemoglobin level, mean cellular volume, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin post-Ayurvedic program than before (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that theAyurvedic program effectively manages hair loss associated with iron deficiency anemia among nursingstudents. The implementation of the Ayurvedic program resulted in significant positive changes inhemoglobin, mean cellular volume, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin. Recommendation: Publichealth awareness should be initiated to raise awareness about the Ayurvedic program and therelationship between iron deficiency anemia and hair loss.