[Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant immigrant women compared to ethnic Danish women]

Abstract

The aim was to investigate the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women emigrated from regions with a high prevalence of anaemia. Of a total of 1741 pregnant immigrant women referred to haemoglobinopathy screening, 406 immigrant women were included when matched by gestational age with a cohort of 205 pregnant ethnic Danish women. The prevalence of anaemia was 20.0% in the immigrant group compared to 4.9% among the Caucasian women, and iron parameters indicated iron-deficiency. Attention and nutritional counselling is thus needed on anaemia in this population group.