Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iranian Female High School Students About Iron Supplementation: Evaluation of National Iron Supplementation Program

Iron deficiency anemia in adolescence and adulthood, especially in girls, has a high prevalence. One of the strategies for reducing anemia is the implementation of iron supplementation programs. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of high school girl students about iron supplementation. This cross-sectional study was performed on 399 female students. A cluster random sampling method was used in the northern, southern, eastern, western, and central parts of the country. Data were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS V. 20 software. In this study, only 15% and 17% of the students had a proper level of knowledge and a positive attitude toward iron supplementation. Moreover, 77% of the students reported taking iron supplementation and 89% used iron supplements distributed in schools. However, Only 38% of the students stated that used iron supplements in the classroom or after class (at school). There was a significant relationship between the use of distributed pills in schools and knowledge (P = 0.026) and attitude (P = 0.016). In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between the place of supplements use and the knowledge level (P = 0.032) and attitude (P = 0.003). Based on the results, students’ knowledge and attitude are not sufficient and the rate of use of distributed pills in schools is relatively low. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out revisions in the implementation process of the iron supplementation program.