Maternal and Child Health — MCQs

Q: An anemic woman in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy is receiving iron and folic acid under the Anemia Mukt Bharat program. Which of the following should be added to improve the efficacy of iron therapy?

Vitamin C. ***Vitamin C*** - Ascorbic acid (**Vitamin C**) acts as a reducing agent in the gut, which converts ferric iron (Fe3+) into ferrous iron (Fe2+), the form that is more easily absorbed by the small intestine. - Supplementing with Vitamin C alongside oral iron therapy significantly enhances its **bioavailability** and absorption rate by preventing the formation of insoluble iron complexes. *Albendazole* - This is an **anthelmintic** agent used for deworming, which is part of the Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy but is administered to treat helminthic infections rather than to directly increase the absorption of iron. - While treating soil-transmitted helminths improves iron status by reducing blood loss, it does not chemically enhance the absorption of the iron supplement itself. *Green leafy vegetables* - While these are rich sources of dietary iron, they contain **phytates** and **oxalates** which can actually bind to non-heme iron and inhibit its absorption. - Relying solely on dietary sources during pregnancy is insufficient to meet the increased iron demands, and adding them does not pharmacologically improve the efficacy of the iron supplement provided. *Non-vegetarian food* - Meat, poultry, and fish provide heme iron, which is absorbed better than non-heme iron, but they do not specifically act as absorption enhancers for the supplemental iron pill prescribed. - While protein-rich, they are not the standard adjuvant used in public health programs to maximize the bioavailability of the specific iron supplements provided in antenatal care.

Practice by Chapter

Maternal Mortality: Causes and Prevention

Practice Questions

Antenatal Care

Practice Questions

Intranatal Care

Practice Questions

Postnatal Care

Practice Questions

High-Risk Pregnancy Management

Practice Questions

Infant Mortality: Causes and Prevention

Practice Questions

Under-Five Mortality

Practice Questions

Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness

Practice Questions

School Health Services

Practice Questions

Adolescent Health

Practice Questions

Reproductive and Child Health Programs

Practice Questions

International Maternal and Child Health Initiatives

Practice Questions

Want unlimited practice?

Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.

Start For Free

Scan to download app