ABSTRACT
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common micronutrient deficiency and a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) globally. Although multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) provides a broader range of micronutrients than iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) prior to conception, the acceptability of MMS and home-based supplementation strategies remains underexplored. We assessed the acceptability of MMS, IFAS, and a contextualized nutrition curriculum delivered via school clubs in a two-arm cluster-randomized trial across three rural secondary schools in Monapo District, Mozambique. Fourteen teachers (clusters) were randomized to deliver either weekly school-based IFAS or daily home-based MMS. A total of 492 AGYW aged 13–20 years were enrolled (240 IFAS; 252 MMS); both arms received the same nutrition curriculum. Participants in both arms reported increased energy, improved appetite, and relief from menstrual symptoms. IFAS was significantly more acceptable than MMS for smell, and some participants perceived the once-weekly IFAS regimen as less burdensome than daily MMS. Some AGYW also reported that male peers perceived MMS as birth control, or assumed the girls were pregnant, due to the image of a pregnant woman on the pill bottle. Ratings of the nutrition curriculum and teachers’ facilitation were positive in both arms. Participants generally preferred the regimen they were assigned, and family support facilitated adherence. These findings suggest home-based supplementation may be a feasible and acceptable strategy for reaching in-school and out-of-school AGYW in Mozambique. Including boys in future interventions and redesigning the MMS label could help reduce misconceptions and enhance acceptability.
Maternal &Child Nutrition, Volume 22, Issue 3, July 2026. Read More