The consequences of iron deficiency and anaemia in pregnancy on maternal health, the foetus and the infant
- PMID: 12288229
The consequences of iron deficiency and anaemia in pregnancy on maternal health, the foetus and the infant
Abstract
PIP: An estimated 2150 million people are iron deficient, with deficiency severe enough to cause anemia in 1200 million people globally. Widespread particularly among tropical low-income populations, anemia has serious health and functional consequences. Due to their increased iron demands of menstruation and pregnancy, women of fertile age and pregnant-lactating women are especially affected by anemia and iron deficiency. Approximately 47% of non-pregnant women and 60% of pregnant women worldwide have anemia, while those who are iron deficient without anemia may comprise 60% and 90%, respectively. The anemic pregnant woman is at greater risk of death during the perinatal period. Iron deficiency also affects performance during pregnancy and delivery, lactation performance, working capacity and general well-being, and immunity status. Infants are adversely affected in terms of health, development, hematological status, and iron nutrition. Most anemia is, however, the result of severe iron deficiency, and therefore open to prevention and treatment interventions with a very high benefit/cost ratio. Accordingly, world authorities have agreed that anemia in pregnant women must be reduced by one-third by the year 2000. The author recommends expanding the target for iron supplementation to all women of fertile age who might become pregnant, the adoption of a preventive instead of therapeutic approach to iron deficiency, and the exploration of new supplementation programs.
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