Table 1.

Comparison of anthropometry, iron status and prevalence of anaemia in children with 1 year of suspension of the MDM, IFA supplementation and bi-annual deworming

Parameters	February 2020 (N=290)	February 2021 (N=290)	P value
Age (y)*	8.4±1.4	9.7±1.4	<0.0001
Weight (Kg)*	20.8±3.6	24.4±5.2	<0.0001
Height (cm)*	121.9±8.3	129.4±8.5	<0.0001
BMI for age Z-score*	−1.52±0.86	−1.48±1.06	0.18
Haemoglobin (g/dL)*	12.1±1.1	11.6±1.1	<0.0001
Serum ferritin (ng/mL)‡§	15.1 (10.4, 20.3)	14.8 (9.80, 23.4)	0.037
Anaemia (%)†	62 (21.3%)	115 (39.5%)	<0.0001

*Paired t-test.

†Mc-Nemar’s χ² test.

‡Wilcoxon Sign-Rank test.

§Mean±SD; median (quartile 1, quartile 3).

BMI, body mass index; ID, iron deficiency, measured based on serum ferritin cut-off <15 ng/mL; IFA, iron folic acid; MDM, mid-day meal.