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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access originally published online on January 26, 2005
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 2005 51(2):67-71; doi:10.1093/tropej/fmh065
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© Oxford University Press 2005; all rights reserved

Original Papers

Effectiveness of Biweekly Versus Daily Iron–Folic Acid Administration on Anaemia Status in Preschool Children

Shally Awasthi1, Tuhina Verma1 and Shiela Vir2

1 The Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, India, 2 UNICEF, India

Prof. Shally Awasthi, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, King George's Medical University (KGMU), Shahmina Road, Lucknow # 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail <sawasthi{at}sancharnet>.

Three-quarters of preschool children in India are anaemic. With the aim of identifying a cost-effective strategy for iron supplementation, the study objective was to assess the effectiveness of daily versus biweekly iron–folic acid (IFA: 20 mg elemental iron and 0.1 mg folic acid/tablet) on change in haemoglobin (Hb) levels of preschool children (3–6 years). This was a rural community-based effectiveness study in Uttar Pradesh, North India. IFA was given in two schedules: biweekly (2 tablets/dose) and daily (1 tablet/dose) for 1 year with fortnightly monitoring for adherence. A total of 400 and 403 children were enrolled in daily and biweekly regimes, respectively, of which 57.32 per cent and 50.25 per cent were anaemic (Hb <11 g/dl) in each group. Adherence in biweekly and daily regimes was 89.05 per cent vs. 63.5 per cent. After 1 year, the mean Hb rise in daily and biweekly regime was 1.063 g/dl (SD: 1.6; p = 0.000) and 1.053 g/dl (SD: 1.73; p = 0.001), respectively. Reduction in point prevalence of anaemia was 65.7 per cent daily vs. 56.1 per cent in biweekly regimen (p = 0.0047). We conclude that biweekly as well as daily IFA administration is effective in raising Hb levels and decreasing community prevalence of anaemia significantly. However, since there is better adherence and lower drug costs associated with biweekly IFA administration, this can be considered for programme use.


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Reduction in Anaemia Prevalence Through Implementation of IFA Supplementation Through ICDS Scheme
Umesh Kapil, et al.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 18 Aug 2005 [Full text]

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