Maternal health: iron and folic acid supplementation: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Maternal health: iron and folic acid supplementation

Sample item

A programme officer is explaining the national IFA supplementation schedule for pregnant women to ASHA workers. Which statement is correct?

ADaily IFA for 180 days from the fourth month, then 180 days after deliveryBIFA only for women whose haemoglobin is below 11 g/dLCIFA for 100 days during the third trimester onlyDDaily IFA from conception until delivery only

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Daily IFA for 180 days from the fourth month, then 180 days after delivery

Under the national anaemia control strategy, all pregnant women receive iron and folic acid daily for at least 180 days beginning from the fourth month, and supplementation continues for 180 days postpartum. Anaemic women receive a higher therapeutic dose. Screening for haemoglobin is performed in every antenatal visit.

Option by option

A. Daily IFA for 180 days from the fourth month, then 180 days after delivery (correct)
Correct. This is the prophylactic schedule in pregnancy and postpartum.
B. IFA only for women whose haemoglobin is below 11 g/dL
Supplementation is universal in pregnancy, not restricted to anaemic women.
C. IFA for 100 days during the third trimester only
A 100-day course restricted to the third trimester was an older approach, not the current schedule.
D. Daily IFA from conception until delivery only
Stopping at delivery omits the postpartum period, which is also covered by the schedule.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Daily IFA for 180 days from the fourth month, then 180 days after delivery. Under the national anaemia control strategy, all pregnant women receive iron and folic acid daily for at least 180 days beginning from the fourth month, and supplementation continues for 180 days postpartum.

Why is "IFA only for women whose haemoglobin is below 11 g/dL" not the answer?

Supplementation is universal in pregnancy, not restricted to anaemic women.

Why is "IFA for 100 days during the third trimester only" not the answer?

A 100-day course restricted to the third trimester was an older approach, not the current schedule.

Why is "Daily IFA from conception until delivery only" not the answer?

Stopping at delivery omits the postpartum period, which is also covered by the schedule.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal health: iron and folic acid supplementation in PSM. Anaemic women receive a higher therapeutic dose. Screening for haemoglobin is performed in every antenatal visit.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal health: iron and folic acid supplementation?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.