Online ISSN: 2515-8260

Utilization Pattern of Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) Among School Going Adolescents in North India.

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Gaurav Ojha1 , Spriha Bhaskar2 , Jyoti Sharma3 , Roja VR* 4 , Anil Kumar5 , Arti Sharma

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia is a major public health problem among adolescents. Government is providing free IFA tablets to address the issue. Objectives: To know the utilization pattern of Iron folic acid supplementation (IFAS) among school going adolescent (Boys and girls) in Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh, India Methods: This cross-sectional study has been carried out among school going adolescent girls and boys age 10-14 years who are studying in govt. schools of class sixth and seventh in a district Shravasti of Uttar Pradesh, India from December 2017 to March 2018. Six schools were selected randomly from Hariharpur Rani block. Study sample size included 220 adolescent girls. The primary outcome of the study was utilization of IFA programme. Result: Awareness about IFA was approximately (60%) among children (58%) girls and (41%) boys reported that teachers explained about IFA in schools. Only 3 % of girls mentioned the correct reason about use of IFA. (12%) girls (6%) boys reported that IFA tablet kills the stomach worm and prevent clotting of blood. (77.2%) boys and (53.5%) girls expressed that taste of the tablet was bad. Approximately five percent boys and 17 % girls reported to have side-effects after taking tablets. Only 14 adolescents out of 220 adolescents included in this study had complete utilization of IFA. The consumption of IFA for more than 1 year in age group (10-12) was more (9%) in boys and (13%) in girls. The utilization of IFA was more in females as compared to males. IFA supplementation for more than one year, proportion of Hindus (7.19%) was more as compared to Muslims (4.48%). Conclusion: Knowledge and utilization of IFA among school going adolescent was very low. Improving information education and communication might help increase the utilization pattern of IFA among them.

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