Daily versus weekly iron supplementation and prevention of iron deficiency anaemia in lactating women
Haidar, J.; Omwega, A.M.; Muroki, N.M.; Ayana, G.
East African Medical Journal 80(1): 11-16
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 12755236 Document Number: 564869
207 lactating women from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were enrolled and divided into 3 groups. 71 women received an iron supplement, 300 mg ferrous sulfate and 400 micro g folic acid, daily, 68 women received the iron supplement once weekly, and 68 women with no supplements served as controls. The longitudinal study was conducted between March and June 2001. Haemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations were compared before and after the intervention. Anaemia prevalence decreased significantly in all groups. The prevalence of anaemia, based on haemoglobin levels, in the daily group decreased from 6.98% to 1.67%, in the weekly group, from 6.7% to 1.77%, and in controls, from 6.7% to 6.09%. There was no statistical difference between the daily and weekly groups (P=0.76), but both groups differed significantly from the control group (P=0.000). The prevalence of anaemia, based on serum ferritin levels, yielded the same trend, having no significant difference between daily and weekly groups, but significantly differed from the controls. Adverse effects were more common in the daily group than in the weekly group for the first 2 weeks, but was not statistically significant (P=0.04). The unit cost of daily iron supplementation of $0.10 was more expensive than the unit cost of weekly iron supplementation at $0.02. It is concluded that weekly supplementation of iron is a simpler intervention to increase haemoglobin levels in lactating women and is more economically advantageous.