Reducing nutritional anemia by iron supplementation in adolescent girls in rural area of Delhi

The NFHS-3 data suggests that anemia among adolescent Indian girls (15—19 years) is fifty six percent. The control of anemia in adolescent girls can be more easily achieved if satisfactory iron status can be ensured in this important phase of life. The present study aimed at assessing the effect of supplementation of iron folic acid with and without ascorbic acid on hemoglobin level of adolescent girls. This case-control study was conducted at Govt. Girls School, Ujwa, New Delhi. One hundred sixty-eight adolescent girls between the of 12–15 years age group were screened for hemoglobin level and among them 90 moderate anemic (7–10 g/dl) were selected for the study and divided into three equal groups randomly vip. A, B & C (30 each). Adolescent in A group were supplemented with Iron Folic Acid (IFA); B group were supplemented with Iron Folic Acid (IFA) + Vitamin C 500 mg (Ceilen tablet) and group C (without supplementation) for the period of 3 months. Hemoglobin level and anthropometric examination was done at baseline and after the supplementation period of three months. General profile of the subjects was elicited using a pre coded pre tested questionnaire. Prevalence of anemia in the adolescent girls was found to be 70.79 per cent. Majority of girls were having moderate anemia. The two intervention groups (A & B) had shown an improvement in the hemoglobin level of the subjects due to the impact of IFA supplementation (10.6+1.06 and 11.2+1.10). When compared, Group B (supplementation of IFA and Vitamin C Biweekly) was found to be the best intervention. The declining trend was observed in grades of anemia, there was conversion of moderate anemia to mild anemia and non-anemia which was significant. The mean hemoglobin levels were increased after supplementation of IFA with vitamin C in respondents.