According to Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) recommended dose of IFA tablets provided to ad… - NORCET 5 Prelims - Sept 2023 (Shift-1)

NORCET 5 Prelims - Sept 2023 (Shift-1)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 5 Prelims - Sept 2023 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program is a national initiative to combat anemia in adolescents.
The standard recommended weekly dose for adolescents (10-19 years) under this program is 100 mg of elemental iron and 500 mcg of folic acid.
This dosage is designed to meet the increased iron demands during the adolescent growth spurt and to replenish iron stores.
The supplements are typically provided as blue-colored tablets and administered weekly under supervision in schools or at Anganwadi centers.

Option A: This option has a dangerously incorrect dose and unit for folic acid. 400 mg is 1000 times the typical prophylactic dose of 400-500 mcg. While 60 mg of iron is used in some newer protocols (Anemia Mukt Bharat), the folic acid component makes this option incorrect and unsafe.
Option C: This option has the correct value for iron (100 mg) but a dangerously incorrect unit for folic acid. 500 mg is a therapeutic dose used for specific conditions under medical supervision, not for weekly prophylaxis, and is 1000 times greater than the correct 500 mcg dose.
Option D: This dosage (45 mg elemental iron and 400 mcg folic acid) is the recommended weekly dose for a younger age group, specifically children aged 5-9 years, not for adolescents (10-19 years).

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the different colored Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets (pink, blue, red) next to the corresponding age group (child, adolescent, pregnant woman) and dosage. This visual aid helps in quick recall and association.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Dosage guidelines for Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Anemia is a major public health problem in India, especially among adolescents, due to rapid growth, poor dietary habits, and menstrual blood loss in girls. The WIFS program is a key public health intervention to address this.
Patient Safety: Nurses must be extremely vigilant about units (mg vs. mcg). A mix-up can lead to severe medication errors. Folic acid doses are almost always in mcg for prophylaxis, and a dose in mg is a significant red flag that requires verification.
What if?: If a 14-year-old girl presents with a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL (moderate anemia), the treatment would shift from weekly prophylaxis to a daily therapeutic dose (e.g., two IFA tablets daily) under medical supervision, highlighting the difference between prevention and treatment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: 'WIFS program', 'recommended dose', and 'adolescents'.
Recall the specific guidelines for the WIFS program. This is a factual recall question common in community health nursing.
Carefully examine each option, paying extremely close attention to both the numerical value and the unit (mg vs. mcg).
Eliminate options with incorrect units, as these often represent dangerously incorrect dosages. In this case, any option with folic acid in 'mg' for prophylactic use is highly suspect.
Differentiate between dosages for different age groups. Recall that adolescents have a different requirement than younger children or pregnant women.
Select the option that accurately reflects the dose and unit for the specified age group under the WIFS program.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Dosage guidelines for Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS)
Stem keywords: Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, WIFS, recommended dose, IFA tablets, adolescents
Lead-in keywords: According to

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