Publication:

Efficacy of once a week versus daily supplementation of 200 mg of ferrous sulphate for control of anaemia in school going menstruating adolescent girls

Background Anaemia is one of the most common global public health problem among adolescents affecting developing and developed countries with major consequences for health as well as socio-economic development. India accounts for high prevalence of anaemia in adolescent girls. The objective of the study was to find the efficacy of once a week vs. daily oral iron supplementation of 200 mg of ferrous sulphate, in terms of increase in haemoglobin levels, in mild and moderate anaemic menstruating adolescent girls.

Methods Total 588 menstruating adolescent girls studying in selected eight schools of Handignur PHC were included in the study. Structured questionnaire was administered. Haemoglobin estimation was done at baseline, one, two and three months of iron supplementation. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16.0 version. Intention to treat analysis was carried out.

Results Prevalence of anaemia in menstruating adolescent girls was 94.6% (95% CI 92.83 to 96.37). There has been statistically significant increase in mean haemoglobin in daily at the end of two and three months of supplementation (p<0.001). At the end of three months of iron supplementation haemoglobin values became normal at 75th percentile in daily group and at 90th percentile in weekly group.

Conclusions The present study concludes that daily iron supplementation results in much higher levels of haemoglobin at the end of three months when compared with once a week supplementation. All the adolescent girls need iron supplementation-daily for anaemic and once a week for non-anaemic girls.