Purpose of These Guidelines
These guidelines address the appropriate uses of iron supplements to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia in the context of public health programs. The specific purposes of this document are: n to provide clear and simple recommendations for people planning to use iron supplements in anemia control programs at the local, district, or national levels; n to address both the prevention of iron deficiency anemia and the treatment of severe anemia in public health contexts; and n to integrate recommendations for the use of antimalarial and anthelminthic medications where appropriate along with iron supplements to prevent or treat anemia. It is important to remember that these are guidelines, not rules. Any document written outside the context of a real program can only serve as a starting point for program planners, who are responsible for creatively adapting general guidelines to their particular social, political, and epidemiological situation. As much as possible, these guidelines draw on previous INACG and WHO documents as well as recommendations made by other expert groups.