Assessment of weekly iron–Folic acid supplementation with and without health education on anemia in adolescent girls: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting a large number of children and women in developing countries and constituting a public health condition of epidemic proportions. Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) with health education has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing anemia in adolescent school going girls. We assessed the impact of WIFS with and without health education on anemia in adolescent school girls of Delhi. Methods: This is a school-based intervention study conducted in two government senior secondary schools of Delhi. A total of 210 adolescent school girls from two schools were included in the study. In one school (intervention group), weekly ironfolic acid with health education once a month was given, and in the second school (control group), only WIFS was given for 6 months. Iron–folic acid supplementation containing 100 mg of elemental iron and 0.5 mg of folic acid was given on a weekly basis, and health education was provided once a month for 6 consecutive months. Hemoglobin (Hb) estimation was done at the beginning and the end of the study using the Hemocue method. Mean Hb change after intervention between the control and experimental groups was compared using a t test. Pre and post differences within the control and experimental groups were assessed using a paired- t test. Results: After intervention, there was a significant decline in prevalence of anemia in both the intervention (54.7 percentage points decline) and the control (26 percentage points decline) groups ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: WIFS with once a month health education can be effective in reducing the prevalence of anemia in adolescent school girls.

How Adolescents Perceive Stunting And Anemia: A Qualitative Study In Stunting Locus Area In Yogyakarta Indonesia

“…Therefore, iron supplementation and avoiding smoke exposure are acceptable strategies for combating adolescent anemia. This finding is consistent with another study in Delhi that stated the school-based Fe intervention is a multi-sector collaboration platform that has the potential to provide leverage for stunting prevention in adolescents (Singh et al, 2020).…”

The Effectiveness of MONOGAMIA (Monopoly to Prevent Anemia) on Female Adolescent Knowledge about Anemia Prevention and Consumption of Iron Supplement

“…Educational games are effective in changing behaviour related to nutrition in adolescents[33]. Providing education about nutrition in schools and iron supplementation interventions every week is effective in increasing adherence to Fe tablet consumption, reducing side effects, and treating anaemia in female adolescents at school[34]. The previous study showed a significant effect between weekly iron supplementation in schools with haemoglobin levels and reducing the incidence of anaemia in female adolescents.The level of adherence of female adolescents in taking iron supplement tablets is one of the effective factors in increasing iron supplementation[35].Giving health education about anaemia and nutrition effectively increased female adolescents' knowledge.…”