Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation as a tool to reduce anemia among primary school children in Cambodia.
The prevalence of anemia decreased from 62% to 12% and from 57% to 26% in children 5 to 11 years of age in two rural primary schools in Kampot Province, Cambodia, after oral weekly supplementation with iron-folic acid tablets for 20 weeks and with vitamin A and mebendazole twice per year. In 12- to 15-year-old children, success was less marked. The prevalence of hookworm infestation did not change, but the number of eggs in the stool decreased drastically. The intervention had no significant influence on stunting and wasting. An integrated community approach including mass deworming, health education, and multi-micronutrient supplementation was very effective in reducing anemia in Cambodian schoolchildren and should be adopted on a larger scale.
Longfils
Philippe
P
Food Security and Nutrition Policy Support, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), 352 Monivong Blvd., P.O. Box 164, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 012838739@mobitel.com.kh
Heang
Ung Kim
UK
Soeng
Hay
H
Sinuon
Muth
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000329:Advertising; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid