Randomized trial assesses micronutrient acceptability in adolescents, indicating home and school strategies may be effective.
Key Points
This research aims to explore the acceptability of multiple micronutrient supplementation and nutrition education among adolescent girls and young women in Mozambique.
Conducted a two-arm cluster-randomized trial in three rural secondary schools in Monapo District.
Randomized 14 teachers to deliver either weekly school-based iron-folic acid supplementation or daily home-based multiple micronutrient supplementation.
Enrolled 492 adolescent girls and young women aged 13-20 years.
Participants in both arms reported increased energy and improved appetite, with positive ratings for the nutrition curriculum.
Iron-folic acid supplementation was significantly more acceptable than multiple micronutrient supplementation for its smell and perceived burden.
Some participants faced stigmas regarding multiple micronutrient supplementation due to misconceptions linked to its labeling.