Health Interventions in Adolescents: The Combined Effects of Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation and Deworming on Micronutrient Status of Adolescent Girls in Abuja, Nigeria

Purpose: This study assessed the combined effects of iron-folic acid supplementation and deworming on the micronutrient status of adolescent girls in a Government Secondary School, Abuja, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed, and a total of 67 adolescents who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The adolescent girls were given weekly iron-folic acid containing 60 mg of elemental iron and 0.04 mg of folic acid for 12 weeks. A one-off deworming tablet (400 mg of Albendazole) was administered a week prior to the commencement of the weekly iron-folate intervention. Baseline data of heamoglobin (Hb), iron and folate level were collected. Malaria and parasitological tests were also conducted. End-line assessment of anaemia, serum ferritin, serum folate and parasitology test was conducted after the 12-week to determine the effect of the weekly iron-folic acid intervention on the adolescents. Statistical analysis of frequencies, mean, percentages, paired sample t-test and correlations, was carried out using IBM-SPSS, version 22. Differences were inferred to be significant at p<0.05. Findings: The adolescents were within the age-range of 10-14 years (64.2%) and 15-19 years (35.8%). Worm infestation was low (7.5%), while prevalence of anaemia was 17.5% at baseline. After the 12 weeks intervention, all the subjects had normal Hb level. At baseline, a total of 7.5% and 2.5% of the subjects had deficient serum ferritin and folate levels, respectively. However, at the end of the intervention 100% of the adolescents were free from worm infestation and had normal level of serum ferritin and folate level. Malaria status significantly correlated with Hb, ferritin and folate status (p < 0.05). Implications to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The findings reinforce the effectiveness of school-based iron-folic acid supplementation and deworming programs in improving micronutrient status and eliminating worm infestation among adolescents. These results support the need for routine implementation of similar interventions in schools to address micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia in low-resource settings. Policymakers should integrate such programs into national adolescent health strategies, ensuring adequate funding and sustainability to optimize adolescent health outcomes.