Year: 2026 | Month: September | Volume: 13 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 207-214
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260922
School-Based Interventions for the Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adolescent Girls: A Scoping Review
Annisa Lidra Maribeth1,2, Dewi Marhaeni Diah Herawati3, Rosfita Rasyid4, Nur Indrawaty Lipoeto5
1Doctoral Program of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia.
2Departement of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Baiturrahmah, Padang, Indonesia.
3Departement of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia.
4Departement of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia.
5Departement of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: Annisa Lidra Maribeth
ABSTRACT
Background: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is a critical global public health challenge among adolescent girls, driven by increased physiological iron requirements during growth spurts, menstrual blood loss, inadequate dietary intake, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors. Schools serve as a strategic platform for delivering broad and sustainable IDA prevention interventions. This study aims to summarize and analyze various school-based intervention models for preventing IDA among adolescent girls.
Methods: A scoping review comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases using BOOLEAN operators based on the PICOS framework. After screening and data extraction, 12 qualified articles were included in the final synthesis.
Results: Synthesis of the included studies demonstrated that school-based interventions effectively reduced anemia prevalence, increased hemoglobin (Hb) levels, optimized serum folate status, and improved nutrition-related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) among adolescent girls. Four main pillars of successful school-based interventions were identified regular Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFAS), interactive nutrition education utilizing visual media, fixed-day supplementation accompanied by peer educator empowerment, and comprehensive risk factor control by restricting iron-inhibiting beverages and integrating deworming programs alongside school sanitation (WASH).
Conclusion: Integrated and sustainable school-based interventions, supported by multi-sectoral collaboration among primary health centers (Puskesmas), school authorities, peer educators, and parents, hold substantial potential to significantly reduce anemia prevalence, optimize academic performance, and improve the reproductive health status of adolescent girls.
Keywords: adolescent girls; iron deficiency anemia; iron-folic acid supplementation; school-based intervention; WIFAS.
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