A study on the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in the government schools and anganwadi centres in urban field practicing area of a tertiary health care centre, Hyderabad, Telangana

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major public health problem especially in adolescent age group because of its intergenerational impact. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India launched the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation programme for adolescent girls and boys. The objectives of the study were to study the awareness of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in preventing anemia in the study subjects; to assess the implementation of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in government schools and anganwadi centres.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the 4 government schools and 11 anganwadi centres of the urban field practising area of a tertiary health care centre, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad. All the students who were present at the time of study, the teachers and anganwadi workers, who gave consent were included. The study was carried out for a period of 3 months (August to October, 2018) using a pretested schedule.Results: A total of 313 students, 21 teachers and 10 anganwadi workers had participated in the study. Among school students, only 15% had awareness of anemia. Girls had better knowledge than boys (p<0.05). The benefits of iron folic acid tablets were known to 17% students and 67% teachers. Most commonly side effects were nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Irregular supply of tablets and poor maintainence of records was seen.Conclusions: The supply and distribution of tablets was found to be not in accordance with the guidelines of the programme.There is need of regular orientation to the teachers and anganwadi workers and nutrition education meetings for behaviour change communication to the parents.