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Effective community intervention to improve hemoglobin status in preschoolers receiving once-weekly iron
L Palupi1, W Schultink, E Achadi
1Regional South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization Center for Community Nutrition, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Insights
Weekly iron supplementation effectively reduced anemia in preschoolers. Mothers administered supplements, demonstrating a feasible community-based approach to improve child health and iron levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Interventions
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent global health issue in young children.
- Effective and scalable interventions are needed to combat childhood anemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of weekly iron supplementation on hemoglobin levels in preschoolers.
- To assess the added benefit of deworming treatment alongside iron supplementation.
Main Methods:
- A double-masked, placebo-controlled field trial involving 289 preschoolers.
- Randomization into three groups: iron + deworming, iron alone, and placebo.
- Mothers administered weekly iron (30 mg Fe) or placebo supplements after education on iron deficiency.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence decreased from 37.2% to 16.2% in iron-supplemented groups (P < 0.001).
- Hemoglobin increased significantly more in iron-supplemented groups (6.9 g/L) compared to placebo (1.9 g/L).
- Deworming showed no additional benefit as hookworm infection was absent.
Conclusions:
- Once-weekly iron supplementation administered by mothers is an effective strategy to reduce anemia in preschoolers.
- This approach minimizes the need for extensive healthcare staff involvement.
- Community-based iron supplementation can be a successful public health intervention.
Abstract:
The effect of weekly iron supplementation with and without deworming on hemoglobin was investigated in a double-masked, placebo-controlled field trial. Subjects were 289 preschoolers who were randomly divided into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 received 30 mg Fe once weekly and group 3 received a placebo. Group 1 additionally received anthelminthic treatment. Supplements were administered by the mothers, who were educated about iron deficiency beforehand. In the iron-supplemented groups prevalence of anemia decreased from 37.2% to 16.2% (P < 0.001). Hemoglobin increased by an average of 6.9 +/- 9.8 g/L in the two iron-supplemented groups (n = 191), which was greater (P < 0.001) than the increase of 1.9 +/- 8.0 g/L in the placebo group. None of the subjects had hookworm, and anthelminthic treatment did not have an additional effect. Iron supplements administered once weekly by mothers reduced anemia without major involvement of health staff.
