title: A randomised trial in Mali of the effectiveness of weekly iron supplements given by teachers on the haemoglobin concentrations of schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect on the haemoglobin concentrations of schoolchildren of weekly iron tablets administered by teachers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty schools were randomly assigned to two groups: in 30 schools children were given weekly for 10 weeks a tablet providing 65 mg of iron and 0.25 mg of folic acid; in the other 30 schools no iron tablets were given. All children were dewormed and given vitamin A before the study began. The haemoglobin concentration of up to 20 randomly selected children in each school was estimated before and 2 weeks after the end of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural community schools in Kolondieba district of Mali.
  
  
  METHODS
  Some 1113 schoolchildren aged 6-19 years with a mean of 11.4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The haemoglobin concentration of treated children rose on average by 1.8 g l(-1) and the prevalence of anaemia fell by 8.2%; in untreated children the haemoglobin concentration fell by an average of -2.7 g l(-1) and the prevalence of anaemia rose by 9.4%. The fall in haemoglobin concentration among untreated girls of -4.0 g l(-1) was greater than in untreated boys (-0.3 g l(-1) ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly iron tablets given by teachers prevented a general fall in the haemoglobin concentrations of untreated children, and led to a small but statistically significant rise among treated children. Young children benefited more than children aged >or=12 years, and girls benefited more than boys.
authors: Helen Keller International, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Hall
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Roschnik
authors: Fatimata
authors: F
authors: Ouattara
authors: Idrissa
authors: I
authors: Touré
authors: Fadima
authors: F
authors: Maiga
authors: Moussa
authors: M
authors: Sacko
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Moestue
authors: Mohamed Ag
authors: MA
authors: Bendech
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D012574:Schools
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary