Kataria Suryansh, Kataria Samriddhi, Chougule Durga, Bharti Bindesh, Rastogi Akanksha
Public Health, Delhi Public School, Gurgaon, IND.
Research, Freelance, Mumbai, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Dec 12;16(12):e75608. doi: 10.7759/cureus.75608. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a prominent cause of anemia adversely affecting the physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual. It is a major health concern and has impacted more than two billion people worldwide. It is necessary to implement programs to increase compliance rates for iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and educate individuals about anemia. In this study, we evaluate the impact of a non-profit organization's IFA supplementation program for school-age and adolescent females to combat anemia.
This study was conducted via a grassroots organization that used a peer network to integrate with the existing national anemia campaign in school-age and adolescent females. This single-arm preintervention and postintervention study conducted over four months from June to September 2023 evaluated the effect of a one-time anti-helminthic treatment and weekly IFA supplementation (45 mg elemental iron and 0.4 mg folic acid per tablet for seven to nine-year-old females; 60 mg elemental iron and 0.5 mg folic acid per tablet for 10 to 19-year-old females) for 90 days. Hemoglobin levels at baseline and post-IFA supplementation were assessed using point-of-care direct reading hemoglobinometers. The pre- and post-test hemoglobin values were compared by a paired t-test.
A total of 160 females visiting the foundation were approached, out of which 146 agreed to participate in the study. The baseline hemoglobin levels among 146 females were 10.9 ± 1.7 g/dL, and 103 (70.5%) of them were observed to have anemia. Due to a loss of follow-up, 99 participants were evaluated for pre- and post-IFA supplementation hemoglobin levels. Among 99 females, anemia was observed in 68.7% at baseline. The baseline hemoglobin level of 11.1 ± 1.7 g/dL significantly raised to 11.7 ± 1.4 g/dL after IFA supplementation (p<0.001). After IFA supplementation, the baseline distribution of participants with normal hemoglobin rose to 47.5% (post-test) from 31.3% (pre-test), showing a difference of 16.2%. The normal hemoglobin level distribution across the age groups after the weekly IFA supplementation program improved by 17.2% in participants aged seven to 10 years (from 31.4% to 48.6%), 17.7% in 11 to 14 years (from 29.45% to 47.1%), and 7.7% in those aged 15 to 19 years (from 38.5% to 46.2%).
Grassroots organizations can be pivotal in enhancing the efficacy of IFA supplementation programs, particularly in combating anemia among children. Behavior change communication and peer networks of such organizations can be integrated into existing programs to significantly contribute to improving the compliance rate of IFA supplementation programs.
缺铁性贫血（IDA）是贫血的一个主要原因，对个人的身体、心理和社会福祉产生不利影响。它是一个重大的健康问题，全球超过20亿人受到影响。有必要实施相关项目以提高铁和叶酸（IFA）补充剂的依从率，并对个人进行贫血教育。在本研究中，我们评估了一个非营利组织针对学龄期和青春期女性的IFA补充项目对抗贫血的影响。
本研究通过一个基层组织开展，该组织利用同伴网络与现有的针对学龄期和青春期女性的全国性贫血防治运动相结合。这项单组干预前和干预后的研究于2023年6月至9月进行，为期四个月，评估了一次性抗蠕虫治疗和为期90天的每周IFA补充剂（7至9岁女性每片含45毫克元素铁和0.4毫克叶酸；10至19岁女性每片含60毫克元素铁和0.5毫克叶酸）的效果。使用即时护理直接读数血红蛋白仪评估基线和补充IFA后的血红蛋白水平。通过配对t检验比较测试前和测试后的血红蛋白值。
共有160名到该基金会就诊的女性被邀请参与研究，其中146名同意参加。146名女性的基线血红蛋白水平为10.9±1.7克/分升，其中103名（70.5%）被观察到患有贫血。由于失访，99名参与者接受了补充IFA前后血红蛋白水平的评估。在99名女性中，基线时68.7%的人患有贫血。补充IFA后，基线血红蛋白水平从11.1±1.7克/分升显著提高到11.7±1.4克/分升（p<0.001）。补充IFA后，可以观察到血红蛋白正常的参与者的基线分布从31.3%（测试前）上升到47.5%（测试后），差异为16.2%。在每周补充IFA项目后，7至10岁参与者的正常血红蛋白水平分布提高了17.2%（从31.4%提高到48.6%），11至14岁提高了17.7%（从29.45%提高到47.1%），15至19岁提高了7.7%（从38.5%提高到46.2%）。
基层组织在提高IFA补充项目的疗效方面可能起着关键作用，特别是在防治儿童贫血方面。这些组织的行为改变沟通和同伴网络可以整合到现有项目中，为提高IFA补充项目的依从率做出重大贡献。
