Abstract |
This project was designed to convince and empower management and plantation workers to improve their own nutritional health status and productivity. Plantations are generally bypassed by the government's primary health-care system. A nine-month intervention with iron (60 mg of elemental iron) and vitamin A supplementation and iodized salt was performed on the Balanoor Plantations in India. Of the women tea pickers, 99% (n = 334) received the supplements and bought the iodized salt from the plantation ration shop. Their mean hemoglobin level rose significantly from 11.0 to 11.9 g/dl. The women pickers gave the supplements to their families as well as themselves. The results were the same whether iron was given once or twice a week. The mean hemoglobin level of the women pickers rose significantly from 11.1 to 12.0 g/dl with the twice-weekly dose and from 10.9 to 11.8 g/dl with the weekly dose. The prevalence of clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency in the entire plantation population (about 2,500) was reduced significantly (from 19% to 4%), as was iodine deficiency (from 17% to 7%). Common health problems decreased from 88% to 54%. The number of patients referred to larger hospitals decreased significantly from 116 to 86. Absenteeism was not affected.
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Authors | Tara Gopaldas, Sunder Gujral |
Journal | Food and nutrition bulletin
(Food Nutr Bull)
Vol. 23
Issue 2
Pg. 143-52
(Jun 2002)
ISSN: 0379-5721 [Print] United States |
PMID | 12094664
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Hemoglobins
- Iron, Dietary
- Micronutrients
- Sodium Chloride, Dietary
- Vitamin A
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Topics |
- Absenteeism
- Adult
- Agriculture
- Body Mass Index
- Child
- Dietary Supplements
- Female
- Hemoglobins
(drug effects)
- Humans
- India
- Iron, Dietary
(administration & dosage, blood)
- Male
- Micronutrients
(administration & dosage)
- Nutrition Disorders
(drug therapy)
- Occupational Health
(statistics & numerical data)
- Sodium Chloride, Dietary
(administration & dosage)
- Vitamin A
(administration & dosage)
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