Impact of School Breakfast and Lunch Program on Iron Deficiency Anemia in School Children

Mahdi Frehat; Alhadidi , Aghadeer Mohamad; Alqa’qa’ , Kefah; Reham Mardini; Omaima Aljarah

doi:10.5742/MEJFM.2013.116274

Article Details

Impact of School Breakfast and Lunch Program on Iron Deficiency Anemia in School Children

Authors:

Mahdi Frehat | Alhadidi , Aghadeer Mohamad | Alqa’qa’ , Kefah | Reham Mardini | Omaima Aljarah

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2013 vol.11 Issue 6, pp.10-13

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

31855

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEJFM.2013.116274

Descriptors:

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Objective: Iron deficiencyanemia is a common healthproblem in children in Jordan so we addressed in our study theeffect of the two meals program in school on iron deficiency anemia in children who attended these schools in a rural area in Jordan.Method: This study wasestablished in the southern mobile military hospital in Al-mdawara (rural area) in the secondsemester of the academic year 2010 in schools of education and military culture. The aim of this study is to investigate theprevalence of iron deficiency anemia in school children aged 6 to 18 years, who attended schools where two meals are offered.The study sample consisted of 186 children, 141 (75.8%) malestudents, and 45 (24.2 %)female students. Complete blood count (CBC) was performed for all children. For those who had low haematocrit with low meancorpuscular volume according to age; ferritin was done for them for a definite diagnosis of Irondeficiency anemia.School marks were recorded;income of the family, size of the family, education of the parents, and the days of absence from school for each child werecollected by a structuredquestionnaire.Result: The prevalence of irondeficiency was 4.3%. Theprevalence of iron deficiency among females was 6.6%, and among males was (3.5%).Median school degrees was 83, for the anemic 78 and for non anemic 85.5.We found no effect of familyincome, size or the level ofeducation of parents on theincidence of anemia between children who received two meals at school.Conclusion: Two meals school program mainly in rural areasreduce the prevalence of irondeficiency anemia in schoolchildren.

Article Details

Impact of School Breakfast and Lunch Program on Iron Deficiency Anemia in School Children

Authors:

Mahdi Frehat | Alhadidi , Aghadeer Mohamad | Alqa’qa’ , Kefah | Reham Mardini | Omaima Aljarah

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2013 vol.11 Issue 6, pp.10-13

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

31855

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEJFM.2013.116274

Descriptors:

IRON DEFICIENCY

ANAEMIA

SCHOOL CHILDREN

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

SCHOOLS

JORDAN

iron deficiency anemia

school children

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mahdi Frehat | Alhadidi , Aghadeer Mohamad | Alqa’qa’ , Kefah | Reham Mardini | Omaima Aljarah

Publisher: medi+WORLD International

Main Topics: Medicine

Journal: World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2013 vol.11 Issue 6, pp.10-13

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 8/2013

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 31855

Frequency: Monthly

eISSN: 18390196

pISSN: 18390188

DOI: 10.5742/MEJFM.2013.116274

Descriptors:

Issues

Authors:

Mahdi Frehat | Alhadidi , Aghadeer Mohamad | Alqa’qa’ , Kefah | Reham Mardini | Omaima Aljarah

Publisher:

medi+WORLD International

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

World Family Medicine Journal: Incorporating the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine 2013 vol.11 Issue 6, pp.10-13

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2013

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

31855

Frequency:

Monthly

eISSN:

18390196

pISSN:

18390188

DOI:

10.5742/MEJFM.2013.116274