© Kamla-Raj 2009 J Hum Ecol, 25(1): 61-62 (2009) Intervention of Iron-folic Acid in School children Bharat H. Patel 1 , Deepak Saxena 2 , Deepika Singhal 1 , Vipul Keerti Sharma 3 , R. S. Maheshwari 4 and M. M. Prakash 5 1. Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, India 2. Department of Opthalmology, Smimer, Surat 395001, Gujarat, India E-mail: ddeepak72@yahoo_com 3. Post Graduate Department of Zoology, P. M. B. Gujarati Science College, Indore 452 001, Madhya Pradesh, India E-mail: vipulkeerti@yahoo.com 4. Department of Biochemestry, Government Holkar Science College, Indore 452 017 Madhya Pradesh, India 5. Department of Zoology, Government Holkar Science College, Indore 452 017 Madhya Pradesh, India KEYWORDS Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA). Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS). Anaemia ABSTRACT Iron and folate deficiency is an important cause of anaemia among young children. Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells. This is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy. The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of iron deficiency and the improvement in the Hb level by alternate day IFA supplementation. It was observed that amongst 65 students, 63% were found to be anaemic. After alternate day IFA supplementation for 1 month the prevalence decreased to 48.4% with overall increase in mean Hb of 0.59 gm%, from 11.29 to 11.88. INTRODUCTION Adolescence is a significant period of human growth and maturation, unique changes occur an many adult patterns are established. Following early childhood (<2 yr), during the adolescent growth spurt, the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia reappears (Dallman et al. 1980). Iron deficiency affects the ability of adolescents to read, write and learn also. The USAID/OMNI/ PCD consultation concluded, “iron supplemen- tation resulted in significant improvement in school measurements of verbal and other measurable skills among primary school children and adolescents” (Draper 1997). The present study was conducted to estimate the magnitude of aneamia and to see the impact of IFA supplementation on prevalence of it. MATERIALS AND METHODS After getting permission from the authority of Sarvodaya School, Bhatar Road, Surat, Hb estimation of the students was done using sahli’s acid hematin method. The principle in Sahli’s method involves the conversion of haemoglobin to acid hematin and comparing visually the colour developed with that of standard tinted glass. Haemoglobin value is directly red from the graduated haemoglobin tube. Then the data was analyzed and students were grouped into Anaemic (<12 gm%) and Non-anaemic categories as per WHO classification. After that, supervised administration of Iron-Folic acid tablet (each containing 100 mg of elemental Iron and 0.5 mg of Folic acid) was given to each anaemic student in the afternoon, after meal, every second day for a month. A session was arranged for all the students including non-anaemic students, their parents and teachers to make them aware about various aspects of anaemia and its prevention using charts, posters and brochures. After intervention, again Hb was estimated. The data were analyzed using epi-info version 6 programme. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of the total 65 students, 43 (66.2%) were boys and 22 (33.8%) were girls. 49.2% students had more than one sibling. Looking at mother’s education; from 18 students, whose mother studied up to primary level, 72.2% were anaemic, whereas prevalence was 62.9% for those whose mother studied above primary level. Diet-wise, 60% students were vegetarian; of them, 61.5% of