Effect of deworming vs Iron-Folic acid supplementation plus deworming on growth, hemoglobin level, and physical work capacity of schoolchildren.

ABSTRACT

The effect of deworming vs deworming and weekly Iron-Folic acid (IFA) on growth, hemoglobin level, and physical work capacity of children was studied. Children from three rural schools studying from 4th to 7th standard were selected. One set of school children were given deworming tablet (400 mg albendezole) once in six months while the second school children received deworming tablet along with weekly dose of Iron Folic acid Tablet (60 mg of elemental iron and 0.5 mg folic acid). Anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin, and physical work capacity was estimated. No significant change was noticed in the prevalence of malnutrition or physical work capacity of the children. As compared to only deworming, IFA + Deworming showed 17.3% increase in the hemoglobin levels (P<0.001). Thus weekly IFA along with deworming has shown beneficial effect on the hemoglobin levels of the children.