Effectiveness of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation to prevent and control anemia among women of reproductive age in three Asian countries: development of the master protocol and implementation plan.

The master protocol for studying the impact and process of implementation of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation under program conditions is described. Pilot projects guided by the protocol were carried out in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia, where anemia rates are high and different socioeconomic and cultural conditions exist. Each country utilized the same supplement but adapted implementation processes to their specific conditions. Social marketing and community mobilization were considered to be essential tools for sustainability.