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Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common public health problem in adolescent girls. In Indonesia, the prevalence of IDA in adolescent girls reaches 37%. Iron tablets are an effective intervention to prevent and treat IDA. Methods: This research was a randomized controlled trial conducted on female senior high school students in Klaten, Indonesia. A total of 200 female students who met the criteria for anemia (hemoglobin levels < 12 g/dL) were randomized to receive iron tablets or placebo for 12 weeks. Results: At the end of the study, hemoglobin levels in the iron tablet group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group (mean difference 1.2 g/dL, 95% CI 0.8-1.6 g/dL). The prevalence of anemia in the iron tablet group was also significantly lower compared to the placebo group (20% vs 40%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Giving iron tablets is effective in increasing hemoglobin levels and reducing the incidence of anemia in female senior high school students in Klaten, Indonesia.
Dewi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.