title: A Survey of Iron Supplementation Consumption and its Related Factors in High School Students in Southeast Iran, 2015.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of iron supplement consumption and its associated factors among high school students in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) study was conducted in Zahedan, southeast Iran, in 2015. The sample comprised 400 high school students from different areas of Zahedan who were randomly selected. A standard questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used to collect data in the quantitative and qualitative phases, respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS software with one-way ANOVA and Pearson's chi square. Additionally, content analysis was used for the qualitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 38.2% of the students had not consumed iron supplements in the past 16 weeks, and students in third grade had the highest non-consumption rate (P=0.006). There was a significant positive relationship between iron tablet consumption and grade point average in the last year (P = 0.003). Digestive problems, influence of family and friends, students' reluctance, and poor environmental situations were the most important factors related to students' refusal to take tablets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most students did not take or irregularly consumed iron supplements. Based on the digestive problems of the students, improving the taste and quality of iron tablets is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Razi St, P.O. Box 98135, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khammarnia
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Razi St, P.O. Box 98135, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Razi St, P.O. Box 98135, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajmohammadi
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Razi St, P.O. Box 98135, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ansari-Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,, Zand St, P.O. Box 14336 - 71348, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslahi
keywords: Iran; anaemia; female; iron-deficiency; students