Effect of directly observed oral iron supplementation during pregnancy on iron status in a rural population in Haryana: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation versus unsupervised supplementation on anemia prevalence, iron status, and compliance among pregnant women in rural India.
Results Summary
Directly supervised IFA supplementation improved compliance by 9% and hemoglobin levels by 0.52 g/dl compared to the control group, but did not significantly increase serum ferritin levels or reduce anemia prevalence more than the control group.
Population
400 pregnant women in a rural setting of north India.
Effective Dosage
Not specified in the abstract.
Duration
100 days.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation | decrease | prevalence of anemia | pregnant women in a rural setting of north India | 6% higher | reduction in anemia was 6% higher | #1 |
directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation | increase | mean hemoglobin level | pregnant women in a rural setting of north India | 0.52 g/dl | increase in the mean hemoglobin level over and above control group was 0.52 g/dl | #2 |
directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation | no change | mean serum ferritin level | pregnant women in a rural setting of north India | similar | mean increase in serum ferritin level was similar | #3 |
directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation | increase | compliance to oral iron supplementation | pregnant women in a rural setting of north India | 9% higher | mean percentage compliance was almost 9% higher | #4 |
BACKGROUND: In India, more than half of the pregnant women suffer from anemia. Low compliance to iron supplementation is one of the important reasons. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to estimate the reduction in the prevalence of anemia, improvement in iron status, and to compare the compliance to oral iron supplementation during pregnancy between directly observed iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation group and control group. METHODS: This was a community-based open labeled parallel block-randomized controlled trial including 400 pregnant women in a rural setting of north India. In the intervention group, the first dose of IFA every week was supervised by ASHA and women were instructed to take the remaining tablets during the week as per the prescription. In control group, IFA tablets were supplemented without direct supervision. RESULTS: After 100 days of IFA supplementation, the reduction in anemia in the intervention group was 6% higher as compared to control group (P = 0.219). The increase in the mean hemoglobin level over and above control group was 0.52 g/dl in intervention group (P < 0.001). However, the mean increase in serum ferritin level in the intervention group was similar to the control group. The mean percentage compliance in the intervention group was almost 9% higher than that of control group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Directly supervised oral iron (IFA) supplementation improves compliance to oral iron (IFA) supplementation and also improves hemoglobin status among pregnant women. However, the mean increase in serum ferritin and reduction in the prevalence of anemia in the intervention group were not higher than the control group.