Who are the beneficiaries of the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program?

MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

Explanation

The WIFS program targets adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years to combat nutritional anemia.
The program includes both school-going adolescent boys and girls, who receive the supplements through their schools.
A key feature of the program is its outreach to adolescent girls who are not enrolled in school; they are provided supplements through the network of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
This comprehensive approach ensures that both in-school and out-of-school adolescents are covered.

Option A: Lactating mothers are not beneficiaries of the WIFS program. They receive daily iron and folic acid supplements under a different national program.
Option C: Pregnant women are a primary target for anemia prevention but are not covered under the WIFS program. They have a separate, more intensive daily supplementation regimen.
Option D: This option is incomplete. While it correctly identifies that both boys and girls are beneficiaries, it omits the specific age group (10-19 years) and the crucial component of reaching out-of-school girls through Anganwadi centers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Beneficiaries of the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's role in community health includes ensuring the effective implementation of programs like WIFS. This involves health education, monitoring for compliance, and managing minor side effects.
Nurses must educate beneficiaries that taking the tablet after a meal can reduce gastric side effects like nausea, and that dark-colored stools are a normal and harmless effect of iron supplementation.
Counseling on diet is crucial. Nurses should advise adolescents to consume Vitamin C-rich foods (like citrus fruits, amla) to enhance iron absorption and to avoid tea or coffee around the time of taking the tablet as they inhibit absorption.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'beneficiaries' and 'Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program'. This indicates the question is asking for the specific target population of a national health program.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about India's national health programs for adolescents.
Recall that WIFS is specifically designed for adolescents to break the intergenerational cycle of anemia.
Evaluate each option for accuracy and completeness.
Option A and C mention lactating mothers and pregnant women. Recognize that these groups have their own anemia control programs, usually with daily supplementation, and are not part of the weekly adolescent program.
Compare Option B and D. Option D is general ('Adolescent Boys and Girls'), while Option B is highly specific ('Adolescent Girls & boys (10-19 yrs), adolescent girls who are not enrolled in school through Anganwadi').

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Beneficiaries of the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program
Stem keywords: beneficiaries, Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, WIFS
Lead-in keywords: Who are

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