Social mobilization and social marketing to promote NaFeEDTA-fortified soya sauce in an iron-deficient population through a public-private partnership.
OBJECTIVE
The present pilot project aimed to assess the effectiveness of social mobilization and social marketing in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and Fe status in an Fe-deficient population.


METHODS
In an uncontrolled, before-after, community-based study, social mobilization and social marketing strategies were applied. The main outcomes included KAP and Hb level and were measured at baseline, 1 year later and 2 years later.


METHODS
One urban county and two rural counties in Shijiazhuang Municipality, Hebei Province, China.


METHODS
Adult women older than 20 years of age and young children aged from 3 to 7 years were selected from three counties to attend the evaluation protocol.


RESULTS
After 1 year, most knowledge and attitudes had changed positively towards the prevention and control of anaemia. The percentage of women who had adopted NaFeEDTA-fortified soya sauce increased from 8.9% to 36.6% (P < or = 0.001). After 2 years, Hb levels had increased substantially, by 9.0 g/l (P < or = 0.001) in adult women and 7.7 g/l (P < or = 0.001) in young children.


CONCLUSIONS
Social mobilization and social marketing activities had a positive impact on the KAP of adult women, and resulted in marked improvements in Hb levels in both adult women and young children. This should be recommended as a national preventive strategy to prevent and control Fe deficiency and Fe-deficiency anaemia.
Wang
Bo
B
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
Zhan
Siyan
S
Sun
Jing
J
Lee
Liming
L
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003256:Community Participation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D040241:Social Marketing; D045730:Soy Foods; D055815:Young Adult
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D004492:Edetic Acid; C019179:Fe(III)-EDTA