An assignment for the course Community Nutrition. Project entitled "Iron and Folate Deficiency in Women of Child Bearing Age in the Eastern Region of Trinidad

1. Iron and Folate Deficiency in
Women of Child Bearing Age
from the Ages of 15-30 years
Living in the Eastern Region
of Trinidad

2. Rationale
• Research has shown that approximately 25 %
of women between the ages of 15-30 are
deficient in iron and folate.
• In 2007 it was reported that there was a 45%
increase in the number women in the Eastern
region of Trinidad who have been medically
diagnosed as being either anaemic or both
iron and folate deficient.

3. • Due to a lack of sufficient data there has not been any
definite reason for this nutritional problem.
• A community needs assessment was conducted in this
community targeting women within the age range of
15-30 years of age residing in the Eastern region of
Trinidad.
• The overall goal of this assessment was to determine
the factors affecting women in the community
consumption of iron and folate in their diet, to
encourage consumption of such nutrients and to
assess their knowledge of and attitudes towards these
micro nutrients

4. • Data was be collected using Four(4) methods:
1) Biochemical Screening
2) Interviews with Key Informants
3) Twenty- Four Recalls
4) Food Frequency Questionnaires

5. A FIGHT AGAINST IRON AND
FOLATE DEFIECNECY

6. This program was developed due to the finding
of the needs assessment which showed the
following:
1) Inadequate consumption of foods rich in iron and/ or folate in
the diet.
2) Inadequate knowledge of satisfactory meal preparation.
3) Unavailability of food sources rich in iron and folate in the
local markets, supermarkets and shops.
4) Insufficient money for food purchasing food items

7. Goal
• To reduce the number of cases of iron and
folate deficiency in women of child bearing
age (15-30) living in the Eastern Territory of
Trinidad.

8. Objectives
• To develop lecture sessions, demonstrations and
educational electronic and print materials that are tailored
the needs and characteristics of the women aged 15-30
years living in the Eastern Territory of Trinidad.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the lecture
sessions, demonstrations and educational, electronic and
print materials on improving the knowledge of iron and
folate in terms of what they are, their functions in the body
and their sources.
• To revise the elements of the health campaign based on the
findings of the evaluation study.

9. • By the year 2015, increase the knowledge of iron and
folate in terms of what they are, their function in the
body and their food sources among women aged 15-30
years living in the Easter Region of Trinidad
• By 2015, increase consumption of iron and folate-rich
foods by 15% among the target population.
• By 2015, reduce iron and folate deficiencies to less
than 10% among the target population
• To counsel women in the target population on the
methods of meal preparation which will release the
nutritive benefits of iron and folate rich foods through
monthly sessions at health and community centres

10. Intervention Programs
• The nutrition education programs which will
be implemented will span a period for a
period of 12 months and will include the
following:
1) Lecture Presentations
2) Video Presentations

11. THANK YOU
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