Background: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of iron supplement
consumption and its associated factors among high school students in Iran.
Methods: A mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) study was conducted in Zahedan,
southeast Iran, in 2015. The sample comprised 400 high school students from different areas of
Zahedan who were randomly selected. A standard questionnaire and semi-structured interview
were used to collect data in the quantitative and qualitative phases, respectively. The data were
analysed using SPSS software with one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s chi square. Additionally,
content analysis was used for the qualitative analysis.
Results: In total, 38.2% of the students had not consumed iron supplements in the past 16
weeks, and students in third grade had the highest non-consumption rate (P=0.006). There was a
significant positive relationship between iron tablet consumption and grade point average in the
last year (P = 0.003). Digestive problems, influence of family and friends, students’ reluctance,
and poor environmental situations were the most important factors related to students’ refusal to
take tablets.
Conclusions: Most students did not take or irregularly consumed iron supplements.
Based on the digestive problems of the students, improving the taste and quality of iron tablets is
recommended