De-worming alone versus de-worming plus iron supplementation: Effect on haemoglobin of primary school children in Aboh-Mbaise

Abstract

Aim: To compare the effect of de-worming alone and de-worming plus iron supplementation on the haemoglobin (Hb) of primary school children.
Materials and methods: An intervention study involving 502 primary school children aged 5-15 years was carried out between May to August, 2003. The study group comprised 253 children who were de-wormed using Levamisole hydrochloride as single dose and also given ferrous sulphate twice a week for 3 months. The control group was 249 children who were only de-wormed using Levamisole hydrochloride. Pre- and post-intervention Hb estimation of each child were obtained and results of study and control groups compared. Hb of less than 12g/dl was taken as anaemia.
Results: There were no significant differences in the sex (P=0.65) and age (P=0.18) distributions of study and control groups. Pre-intervention, there was no significant difference in the level of anaemia among the school children (P=0.54). Post-intervention, the level of anaemia dropped more significantly in study than control group (P=0.00).
Conclusion: Though de-worming will improve the Hb level better result will be achieved by including twice a week iron supplementation especially as a short term preventive/curative measure for mild to moderate anaemia in school children.



Keywords: Haemoglobin; anaemia; de-worming; iron supplementation; children

Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 12 (1) 2007: pp.25-29