Effectiveness of two programs of intermittent ferrous supplementation for treating iron-deficiency anemia in infants: randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Low compliance among mothers regarding the treatment of anemic children using daily doses of ferrous sulfate administered at home has been reported. This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of weekly doses administered by mothers at home compared with weekly supplements administered directly by healthcare professionals, to reduce the prevalence of anemia.


METHODS
This was a randomized clinical trial at a public healthcare clinic in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.


METHODS
This iron supplementation study was carried out using two intervention groups. The sample population was 130 infants, randomly allocated to two groups of 65 children. All of them received 12 weekly doses of 25 mg of elemental iron, administered either in the public healthcare clinic or at their homes.


RESULTS
Treatment compliance was shown in both groups. The prevalence of anemia among all of the children was 75% at the beginning of supplementation and 46.3% at the end of the period (P < 0.0005), corresponding to a reduction in the number of anemic children of 38.3%. The average increases in hemoglobin concentration levels were 0.75 g/dl and 0.65 g/dl, respectively for home interventions and healthcare clinic administration (P < 0.00005).


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly supplementation of 25 mg of iron was proven to be efficient in reducing anemia, using interventions both at home and in healthcare clinics. Compliance among the mothers was achieved because weekly supplementation was easy to administer and had few side effects. The results showed that the treatment presented low cost and fast benefits.
Coutinho
Geraldo Gaspar Paes Leme
GG
Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Goloni-Bertollo
Eny Maria
EM
Pavarino-Bertelli
Erika Cristina
EC
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009313:National Health Programs; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate