Effectiveness of a Program Intervention with Reduced-Iron Multiple Micronutrient Powders on Iron Status, Morbidity and Growth in Young Children in Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT: Despite the potential for improving iron status and child growth in low- and middle-income settings, concerns on the safety of high iron dosages of Micronutrient Powders (MNP currently limit their applicability in programs. We examined the effectiveness and risks of an integrated complementary feeding program with low iron dose (6 mg/serving) MNP among 6⁻23-month-old Ethiopian children using a quasi-experimental study design comparing children from five intervention districts (n = 1172) to those from four matched non-intervention districts (n = 1137). Haemoglobin concentrations increased in intervention and decreased in non-intervention children (group-difference +3.17 g/L), but without improvement in iron stores. Intervention children were 2.31 times more likely to have diarrhoea and 2.08

SUBMITTER: Samuel A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6212941 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature