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Flour fortification with iron: a mid-term evaluation.
- Source :
-
Public health [Public Health] 2008 Mar; Vol. 122 (3), pp. 313-21. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Jul 23. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Iron-deficiency anaemia is a major nutritional problem in Iran. A programme of flour fortification with iron was launched in 2001. A mid-term evaluation was conducted in 2004 to determine the effectiveness and coverage of this programme.<br />Methods: To determine the effectiveness of the program, a field trial was conducted in which blood hemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured in a sample population from Bushehr (intervention) and Fars (control) provinces. The target population was women aged 15-49 years. The coverage of the programme was determined using a cross-sectional study that measured iron content in samples of flour and bread from Bushehr province.<br />Results: Five hundred and sixty-seven and 296 women were studied in the intervention and control provinces, respectively. Women in the intervention province had a lower prevalence of low ferritin levels compared with women in the control province (P=0.04). Women from the two provinces did not differ in terms of haemoglobin levels and iron-deficiency anaemia. The coverage of fortified flour and bread was 100% and 99.7%, respectively.<br />Conclusions: This mid-term evaluation found that the iron fortification programme in Iran has only had a beneficial effect on the prevalence of low ferritin levels. The final evaluation is likely to provide more useful information regarding the effect of this programme on a number of anaemia indicators.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hemoglobins analysis
Humans
Iran epidemiology
Iron Compounds administration & dosage
Male
Middle Aged
Nutritional Status
Prevalence
Program Evaluation
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency drug therapy
Ferritins analysis
Flour
Food, Fortified
Iron Compounds therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0033-3506
- Volume :
- 122
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17645902
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2007.05.002