Simple educational intervention will improve the efficacy of routine antenatal iron supplementation

• Published in: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research 2010-06, Vol.36 (3), p.646-650
• Main Authors: Senanayake, Hemantha M., Premaratne, Samanthi P., Palihawadana, Thilina, Wijeratne, Sumeda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - blood; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - drug therapy; bioavailability; Dietary Supplements; educational intervention; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Ferritins - blood; Humans; Iron; iron supplementation; Patient Education as Topic; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care - methods; Sri Lanka
• ISSN: 1341-8076; 1447-0756
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01197.x

Aim:  Sri Lanka has a policy of free provision of iron supplements to pregnant women. However, iron deficiency anemia remains common in pregnancy. Methods:  We tested the hypothesis that educating women regarding improving bioavailability could improve the efficacy of iron supplementation. The education focused on how best supplements could be taken and on how they should be stored. We carried out a study using a quasi‐experimental design on a group of women attending for antenatal care at a suburban University Obstetric Unit in Sri Lanka. The control group had care free of charge including iron supplementation and antihelminthic therapy. In addition, the study group received an education in small groups regarding maximizing bioavailability of iron. Hemoglobin and iron status of the women were compared between the groups at recruitment and at 34 weeks of gestation. Results:  The two groups were equally matched in demographic data, and hemoglobin and iron status. There were significant differences between the two groups at 34 weeks in the hemoglobin levels, serum ferritin levels, anemia rates and the number with low ferritin (P