Prenatal iron supplementation in rural Vietnam.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential impact of a national iron supplementation programme in rural Vietnam.


METHODS
The study included questionnaires, focus group discussions of pregnant women and key informant interviews, together with measurements of haemoglobin (Hb) and a stool examination for soil-transmitted helminths.


RESULTS
Iron supplementation significantly increased Hb concentration among participants in the second and third trimesters by 0.4 and 0.7 g/dl, respectively (P=0.017 and P<0.001). The risk of anaemia (Hb <10.0 g/dl) was increased significantly by hookworm infestation (P=0.041) and in summer season (P=0.001) and was decreased significantly by taking iron tablets (P=0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that an iron supplementation programme is beneficial as a part of a comprehensive anaemia programme for pregnant women in these communities. These results will be useful for developing improved iron-deficiency anaemia control programs for pregnant women.
Aikawa
R
R
School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.
Jimba
M
M
Nguen
K C
KC
Binns
C W
CW
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary