TY - JOUR
T1 - A free weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular deworming program is associated with improved hemoglobin and iron status indicators in Vietnamese women
AU - Casey, Gerard
AU - Phuc, Tran
AU - MacGregor, Lachlan
AU - Montresor, Antonio
AU - Mihrshahi, Seema
AU - Tran, Thach
AU - Tien, Nong
AU - Biggs, Beverley-Ann
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Abstract
Background: Anemia due to iron deficiency is recognized as one of the major nutritional deficiencies in women and
children in developing countries. Daily iron supplementation for pregnant women is recommended in many countries
although there are few reports of these programs working efficiently or effectively. Weekly iron-folic acid
supplementation (WIFS) and regular deworming treatment is recommended for non-pregnant women living in areas with
high rates of anemia. Following a baseline survey to assess the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and soil transmitted
helminth infections, we implemented a program to make WIFS and regular deworming treatment freely and universally
available for all women of reproductive age in two districts of a province in northern Vietnam over a 12 month period.
The impact of the program at the population level was assessed in terms of: i) change in mean hemoglobin and iron status
indicators, and ii) change in the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and hookworm infections.
Method: Distribution of WIFS and deworming were integrated with routine health services and made available to 52,000
women. Demographic data and blood and stool samples were collected in baseline, and three and 12-month postimplementation
surveys using a population-based, stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design.
Results: The mean Hb increased by 9.6 g/L (95 CI, 5.7, 13.5, p <0.001) during the study period. Anemia (Hb
AB - Abstract
Background: Anemia due to iron deficiency is recognized as one of the major nutritional deficiencies in women and
children in developing countries. Daily iron supplementation for pregnant women is recommended in many countries
although there are few reports of these programs working efficiently or effectively. Weekly iron-folic acid
supplementation (WIFS) and regular deworming treatment is recommended for non-pregnant women living in areas with
high rates of anemia. Following a baseline survey to assess the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and soil transmitted
helminth infections, we implemented a program to make WIFS and regular deworming treatment freely and universally
available for all women of reproductive age in two districts of a province in northern Vietnam over a 12 month period.
The impact of the program at the population level was assessed in terms of: i) change in mean hemoglobin and iron status
indicators, and ii) change in the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and hookworm infections.
Method: Distribution of WIFS and deworming were integrated with routine health services and made available to 52,000
women. Demographic data and blood and stool samples were collected in baseline, and three and 12-month postimplementation
surveys using a population-based, stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design.
Results: The mean Hb increased by 9.6 g/L (95 CI, 5.7, 13.5, p <0.001) during the study period. Anemia (Hb
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2720967/pdf/1471-2458-9-261.pdf
M3 - Article
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 9
SP - 261
EP - 268
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
ER -