الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutrient deficiency problem affecting pregnant women. It continues to be one of the most prevalent single-nutrient deficient in the world. Iron deficiency anemia is a problem of serious public health significance especially in the developing countries. It has a significant impact during pregnancy on the mother as well as on the fetus, even reaches to mortality. It also reduces learning ability and work capacity of the individuals and entire population, bringing serious economic consequences and obstacle to a national development. Pregnancy is a time of increase need for additional amount of iron. Pregnant women may be at higher risk for low iron intake than other member of the family because of traditions and food taboos during pregnancy and also because of associated nausea, vomiting and longing of pregnancy. Thus, the need for iron supplementation during pregnancy is an important issue in the world. Several studies have shown that weekly iron supplementation was as effective as daily iron supplementation in preventing iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. The theory behind that was supported by observations ftom animal studies, that intestinal mucosal cells are not able to absorb the daily iron dose given recently because of some blockage of the absorption by the iron retained in the mucosal cells ftom the last iron dosage. These cells would thus need to be renewed to ensure that iron absorption can begin again. So, weekly iron supplementation program is recommended recently as an alternative to the daily iron supplementation program. I I 1\1 a . The aim of the study was to compare, assess and evaluate the effect of weekly versus daily oral iron supplementation on iron status of pregnant women attending MCH centers in Alexandria city using randomized clinical approach. The study was completed on a total number of 225 pregnant women apparently healthy, selected from two MCH centers randomly. The sample was divided into three groups; the fIrst group included 74 women were supplemented with 60mg elemental iron daily, the second group included 71 women. were supplemented with 60mg elemental iron twice weekly and third group included 80 women did not supplemented with iron. The period of iron supplementation was from 4th or 5th month of pregnancy till 9th month of pregnancy. This study was started at the fIrst day of June 2001 and fmished at 30th of August 2003. Data was collected by personal interview for each pregnant woman during the fIrst visit to collect data on soci9-demographic characteristics, reproductive history and medical history. Data on dietary habits and consumption of foods rich in iron were collected at the end of study to avoid low intake from nausea and vomiting associated at the first trimester of pregnancy. Laboratory measures for Hb and SF levels were measured before start iron supplement and also after iron supplement completed. The results obtained are summarized in the following: The mean age among all women in the study was 25.00:i: 4.87 years.