Follow-up
anemia, nausea, vomiting, bowel disturbances
SIDE EFFECT, ADVERSE EVENTS, ANEMIA, ADVERSE EFFECTS, EVENTS, COMPLICATIONS
All participants were followed up in outpatient settings. During each follow-up weekly visit, participants were contacted on phone on weekly basis to assess the level of compliance with the trial drugs. Participants were informed about the usual side effect of hematinic preparations and were told to report nausea, vomiting, bowel disturbances, or any other complications. Where possible, the participants were also encouraged to record any side effects or adverse events in a paper that was reviewed at each follow-up visit, and they were explicitly asked about such events during each interview. Where possible, the drug compliance was checked before follow-up test and at follow-up visit by checking the used drug packets. Any participants found to be developing complications such as worsening of the symptoms from the study were given appropriate treatment. Repeat hematocrit level was done 2 weeks post initiation of treatment in all the participants to confirm or refute success of the treatment (correction of anemia and levels of hematocrit) and absence/presence of adverse effects. All the pre and post (repeat) hematocrit level were carried out by a Hematologist, while the liver function test (LFT) and serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine (SEUCR) were carried out by the senior laboratory Scientist of Chemical Pathology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria laboratory and the other two collaborating hospitals.