Field Stories
Sumedang shines: Exploring stunting reduction in Indonesia
December 15, 2023
The present study aimed to evaluate whether preconception supplementation with weekly iron and folic acid (IFA) or multiple micronutrients (MMs) improves birth outcomes compared with folic acid (FA) alone. 5011 women of reproductive age were recruited in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in rural Vietnam. Women were randomly grouped into three groups and provided weekly supplements containing either folic acid, iron and folic acid, or the same amount of iron and folic acid plus other micronutrients until conception. After conception, all pregnant women received daily iron and folic acid through delivery, and were followed up for birth outcomes, including birth weight, gestational age, preterm delivery and small for gestational age. Group comparisons were done with the use of ANOVA or chi-square tests.
In this population, weekly preconceptions supplementation with MMs or IFA did not affect birth outcomes compared with FA alone.