A study on the intervention scheme to reduce anemia in female adolescences, in Curug, Tangerang

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the result of an intervention scheme in reducing anemia in female adolescences. The study was carried out in 71 female adolescences (students of the first and second year class, junior high schooll), which were taken using cluster sampling technique, with classes as clusters. The intervention was supplementation of daily pills containing 200 mg sulphate ferrosus and 0.25 mg folic acid for a period of 10 consecutive days monthly for three consecutive months. The supplementation were administered by the teacher at school during school days. Main outcome measure was nutritional status i.e. the level of Hb, serum ferritin as well as Body Mass Index/BMI. Based on serum ferritin and hemoglobin level, around 20% of the subjects were classified as early state of iron deficiency/ID, while 5.7% of the subjects suffered from iron deficiency anaemia/IDA. After supplementation, the serum level of ferritin, Hb, as well as the BM1 showed a significant increase. This intervention seems to be effective as an alternative strategy in reducing anemia in female adolescences.