Abstract
Background
Micronutrient powder has been endorsed as an effective means to improve the micronutrient status of emergency-affected populations.
Objective
To document the experience and findings of a cross-sectional assessment of the micronutrient powder program implemented as part of the emergency response to Cyclone Sidr.
Methods
Micronutrient powder was distributed to 100,714 children under 5 years of age and 59,439 pregnant or lactating women severely affected by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional assessment, including hemoglobin and anthropometric measurements, was conducted after the completion of the micronutrient powder program among children under 5 years of age, lactating mothers, and postmenarcheal adolescent girls in the intervention area. Comparison groups for each, drawn from the control area, which had not received micronutrient powder, were assessed at the same time.
Results
The prevalence of anemia among children under 5 years of age was approximately 80% in both areas. Among children in the intervention area, those who consumed at least 75% of the micronutrient powder sachets had a lower prevalence of stunting than those who consumed less than 75% of the sachets (40% vs. 52%, p < .05). Among lactating mothers in the intervention area, the prevalence rates of thinness and anemia were lower among those who consumed at least 75% of the sachets than among those who consumed less than 75% of the sachets (thinness, 31% vs. 46%, p < .05; anemia, 50% vs. 61%, p = .07). For adolescent girls in the intervention and control areas, none of whom had received micronutrient powder, the prevalence rates of anemia were 52% and 45%, respectively (p = .05).
Conclusions
Micronutrient powder may reduce anemia among lactating mothers, when the compliance rate is high. Anemia prevalence prior to micronutrient powder distribution had not been investigated and could have been higher among children and lactating mothers in the intervention than in the control area, resulting in the negation of the potential positive impact of micronutrient powder on anemia.