Anemia prophylaxis in adolescent school girls by weekly or daily iron-folate supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the benefits of anemia prophylaxis in adolescent school.girls by weekly or daily iron-folate supplementation.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Government girl schools of northeast Delhi.


METHODS
2088 subjects (with hemoglobin greater than 7.9 g/dL), including 702 on daily and 695 on weekly iron-folate administration; 691 girls served as controls.


RESULTS
About 85% girls were iron deficient out of which 49.3% were anemic. Weekly administration took longer time to raise hemoglobin but was effective as well as practical. Plasma ferritin estimation in girls showed rise in level in both the treated groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly administration of iron-folate was a practical and effective strategy for anemia prophylaxis in adolescent school girls.
Agarwal
K N
KN
Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi - 110 095, India. Adolcare@hotmail.com
Gomber
S
S
Bisht
H
H
Som
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron