Under the National Anemia Prophylaxis Programme, how much elemental iron should all pregnant and lactating mothers receive?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023

Explanation

The National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) specifically recommends a prophylactic dose of 100 mg of elemental iron for pregnant and lactating mothers.
This dose is combined with 0.5 mg (500 mcg) of folic acid.
The supplementation is advised daily for a minimum of 100 days, starting from the second trimester of pregnancy.

Option A: A dose of 50 mg is insufficient for meeting the increased iron demands during pregnancy and lactation as per the NNAPP guidelines.
Option B: 80 mg is not a standard dosage specified in the National Anemia Prophylaxis Programme guidelines for any target group.
Option D: 150 mg is a therapeutic dose, not a prophylactic one. It would be used to treat moderate to severe anemia, not for routine prevention in all pregnant women.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Iron supplementation guidelines under National Health Programmes in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
It is critical for nurses to know that the National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) has been updated and replaced by the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy under the POSHAN Abhiyaan (launched 2018).
Under the current AMB guidelines, the recommended prophylactic dose for pregnant and lactating women is 60 mg of elemental iron + 500 mcg of folic acid daily for 180 days during pregnancy and 180 days postpartum.
Patient education is a key nursing role. Nurses must counsel pregnant women on the importance of adherence, managing side effects (like constipation and black stools), and dietary sources of iron.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'National Anemia Prophylaxis Programme', 'elemental iron', and 'pregnant and lactating mothers'.
This is a factual recall question based on a specific national health program of India.
Recall the specific dosage guidelines associated with this program.
The question specifically names the older 'National Anemia Prophylaxis Programme', not the current 'Anemia Mukt Bharat' strategy. Therefore, the answer must align with the older program's guidelines.
Evaluate the options. 100 mg was the standard prophylactic dose under the NNAPP. Doses like 50 mg are likely too low for pregnancy, and 150 mg is in the therapeutic range for treating existing anemia, not for prevention.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Iron supplementation guidelines under National Health Programmes in India.
Stem keywords: National Anemia Prophylaxis Programme, elemental iron, pregnant and lactating mothers
Lead-in keywords: how much
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 202-204

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 317-319

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.