Four studies examined impacts of iron supplementation on school children of various ages and both sexes. The first study investigated impact of iron-folic acid supplements for 60 d on cognition in 94 boys and girls aged 5-8 y. Improvement in total scores of the anemics was significantly higher than the nonanemics in 7-8-y-old children only. The second study assessed impacts of supplementation on cognition in 14 pairs of 5-6-y-old anemic boys, with clear beneficial effects on cognitive function. The third study investigated effects of varying dosages of elemental iron on cognitive function in 48 boys aged 8-15 y, with different levels of improvement. The fourth study investigated impacts of iron supplementation on 163 anemic girls aged 8-15 y with treatment and evaluations at 4 and 8 mo, with significantly improved scores in cognitive function after the eighth month.

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The paper examines various aspects of the growth monitoring (GM) component of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme of India. Data of 3704 rural children, 0-6 years of age revealed that growth of almost half of the children had never been monitored, and monitored inadequately in another 25 per cent of cases. While very few mothers (1 per cent) could interpret growth charts (GC) correctly, 87 per cent of the ICDS functionaries could do this. There was a significant and positive relationship between maternal knowledge and functionary knowledge of the growth chart (GC), and coverage of children for GM. Impact of mothers' GC knowledge on nutritional status of children was determined largely by their literacy status; however, only 17 per cent were literate. Analysis of covariance of the effect of GM on weight-for-age and morbidity controlling for socio-economic status and other programme services showed that GM did not have an impact on the nutritional or health status of children. It is therefore concluded that very high levels of illiteracy amongst mothers may be a major determinant to the success of GM programmes in India.

Twenty-one pairs of slum children (6-24 months) were pair-matched for age and weight. The experimental group consumed a complementary feed of a high energy (1.63 Kcal/ml), but low bulk wheat gruel providing a mean 199 Kcal/child/day v. the control group which consumed an identical (1.63 Kcal/ml), but high bulk gruel providing a mean 50 Kcal/child/day for a period of 180 days. The home diet (breastmilk+family diet) provided about 470 Kcal/child/day in both groups. A comparative evaluation of growth at commencement and end of study demonstrated that: 1. weight, height, and velocity of growth in weight were significantly better in the experimental group; 2. a comparison by nutritional classifications (Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Waterlow) showed a greater benefit to the experimental group; 3. the energy intake per kg body weight was 73 and 62 Kcal, respectively, in the experimental and control groups at end of study. It is concluded that the much higher intake of the amylase-rich food (ARF) treated gruel in the experimental group was responsible for the substantially better growth.

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