GREEN CHUTNEY WITH IRON SUPPLEMENTS MAY BE A TOOL FOR FIGHTING ANEMIA IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract

Background: Globally, anemia is the most common nutritional problem affecting major part of the world’s adolescent population affecting human resource development and economic prosperity of the country. Hence a number of schemes are being run by Government bodies to supplement the food with iron supplements to combat anemia. However these schemes are not successful due to noncompliance of iron supplements by consumers. Today most of adolescent aged girls are interested in taking anything extra in name of “greens” and hence is the window of opportunity to correct their nutritional status by providing additional food supplements and prevent future consequences of nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed to evaluate the compliance of subjects to iron supplements with addition of green traditional food “green chutney” with iron supplements and effectiveness of iron supplements alone in treating iron deficiency anemia.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study (two group pretest and posttest design) conducted among 70 female subjects (35 subjects each in study group I and study group II). Subjects in study group was given green chutney twice a day and iron supplements once daily, while subjects in study group II, were given only iron supplementation once daily for consecutive 42 days. Hemoglobin (Hb) was assessed before and at the end of study.

Results: It was observed that there was a significant rise in the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level to 11.58±1.127  (P < 0.01) in study group I and study group II 11.66±1.000(P < 0.01) compared to baseline values.

Conclusion: The outcome of this study suggests a better compliance and acceptance of kitchen based iron supplement and combination of green chutney and iron supplementation proved to be more effective to overcome iron deficiency.

Key words:  Anemia, adolescent girls, Iron supplements, Green Chutney, Hemoglobin