According to the Government of India – Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme, the recommended dose of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) for pregnant women is:

1. A

   60 mg iron and 500 mcg folic acid

2. B

   60 mg iron and 500 mg folic acid

3. C

   100 mg iron and 500 mcg folic acid

4. D

   50 mg iron and 500 mcg folic acid

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Mains

Explanation

Listen in Hindi

• The Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme specifies a daily prophylactic dose of 60 mg of elemental iron and 500 mcg of folic acid for all pregnant women.
• This dosage aligns with WHO recommendations for regions with a high prevalence of anemia, like India, to effectively prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.
• The 500 mcg (0.5 mg) dose of folic acid is critical for preventing neural tube defects in the fetus and supporting healthy development.
• This supplementation is recommended to start as early as possible in pregnancy and continue throughout.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: The unit for folic acid is incorrect. 500 milligrams (mg) is a toxic overdose, as it is 1,000 times greater than the recommended 500 micrograms (mcg).
• Option C: A dose of 100 mg of elemental iron is a therapeutic dose, not a prophylactic one. It is used to treat pregnant women who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe anemia.
• Option D: While 50 mg falls within the general WHO prophylactic range of 30-60 mg, the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme specifically mandates the higher 60 mg dose for India due to the high public health burden of anemia.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Infographic - A chart displaying the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) guidelines for IFA supplementation, showing the specific dosages and frequencies for different age groups (children, adolescents, pregnant women, lactating mothers).
• Visual 2: Image - A picture of the red IFA tablet provided to pregnant women under the AMB programme, with a label indicating '60 mg elemental iron + 500 mcg folic acid'.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology: Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation guidelines under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme for pregnant women helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
• Nurses play a crucial role in educating pregnant women about the importance of daily IFA supplementation to ensure adherence and prevent maternal anemia, which is linked to postpartum hemorrhage, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.
• It is a key nursing responsibility to explain common side effects of iron tablets (like nausea or dark stools) and provide management tips (e.g., taking the tablet after a meal) to improve compliance.
• What if? If a pregnant woman's lab report shows a hemoglobin level of 9 g/dL, she is diagnosed with moderate anemia. The nurse should anticipate an order to switch from the prophylactic dose (60 mg) to a therapeutic dose (100-120 mg of elemental iron daily) and schedule follow-up blood tests to monitor her response.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the core of the question: the specific IFA dose for pregnant women under the 'Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)' programme.
• This is a factual recall question based on a national health program. Focus on recalling the exact numbers.
• Pay very close attention to the units. Notice the difference between 'mcg' (micrograms) and 'mg' (milligrams) in the options, as this is a common way to create a plausible but incorrect distractor.
• Differentiate between a 'prophylactic' (preventive) dose for all pregnant women and a 'therapeutic' (treatment) dose for women diagnosed with anemia. The question asks for the standard recommended dose, which implies prophylaxis.
• Eliminate the option with the incorrect folic acid unit (500 mg). Then, compare the iron dosages (50, 60, 100 mg) and select the one that matches the standard prophylactic dose for the AMB programme.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Pharmacology: Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation guidelines under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme for pregnant women.
• Stem keywords: Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), Government of India, Iron and Folic Acid (IFA), pregnant women, recommended dose
• Lead-in keywords: According to
• Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

Question ID

QxW0ALZFoUxSY-iq7y6mmU

Copy ID