title: Universal iron supplementation: a simple and effective strategy to reduce anaemia among low-income, postpartum women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reduce prevalence of anaemia in low-income postpartum women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised, non-blind clinical trial was conducted among 959 low-income, postpartum women in eleven clinics in Mississippi. The clinics were randomised to one of three treatment groups: (i) selective anaemia screening of high-risk women as recommended currently (control); (ii) universal anaemia screening and treatment of anaemic women (group I); and (iii) universal Fe supplementation of 65 mg/d for two months to all low-income women (group II). All study participants within each clinic received the same treatment. Women were followed up at 6 months after delivery. Hb was measured at baseline and at follow-up. The primary outcome variable was the proportion of women with anaemia after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven health clinics in Mississippi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-income, postpartum women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics of the three study groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and an appropriate post hoc test for continuous variables and the χ2 test for categorical variables. Fifty-two per cent of postpartum women were anaemic (Hb < 12·0 g/dl) and the rate decreased to 33 % at 6 months after the intervention. Group II women, who received universal Fe supplementation, improved their Hb status significantly (P < 0·001) at 6 months postpartum compared with the other groups. Prevalence of anaemia was also significantly lower among group II women (22·5 %) compared with controls (34 %) and group I women (43 %; P < 0·001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A universal Fe supplementation strategy was effective in reducing the prevalence of anaemia among low-income postpartum women.
authors: Department of Community Health Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA. amal.mitra@usm.edu
authors: Amal K
authors: AK
authors: Mitra
authors: Amal J
authors: AJ
authors: Khoury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008403:Mass Screening; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014131:Trace Elements; D007501:Iron