Use of Iron Supplements by Pregnant Women

Use of Iron Supplements by Pregnant Women

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent single-nutrient deficiencies in the world (Beard , 2000 . Decrease in in the body is known as iron deficiency and when this is severe enough to diminish erythropoiesis , it causes iron deficiency anemia (Conrad 2006 "Iron deficiency is defined as a condition in which there is no mobilizable iron stores and in which signs of compromised supply of iron to tissues , including erythron are noted (WHO , 2000

Incidence and Prevalence

Iron deficiency is most common in women in child-bearing

age . It has been estimated that approximately 4-8 of women in this age group suffer from iron deficiency anemia . According to the World Health Organization , 35 to 75 (56 on average ) of pregnant women in developing countries , and 18 of women from industrialized countries suffer from iron deficiency anemia . In these countries , the women are anemic mostly from the time of conception . This is because of poor nutrition due to poverty and lack of knowledge

Consequences of Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy

Studies have shown that anemia in pregnancy contributes to greater risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity . Severe iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin concentration of 90-100 g /L ) in pregnancy is related to both impaired fetal and maternal health (Beard , 2000 . However there is a great deal of debate over whether it is actually anemia that contributes to mortality or morbidity or other associated factors . A large Indonesian study (Chi , Agoestina Harbin , 1981 ) demonstrated that the maternal mortality rate for pregnant women with hemoglobin less than 10 gram per dl was 70 per 10000 deliveries when compared to those with hemoglobin more than 10 gram per dl wherein the rates were 19 .7 per 10000 deliveries . As far as the baby is concerned , maternal anemia leads to low birth weight in the baby . This occurs due to chronic hypoxia . But even high hemoglobin is not good for the baby . Studies have shown that there is a U-shaped association between maternal hemoglobin concentrations and birth weight (Murphy et al , 1986 . There is an increased risk for infants whose mothers have either a very low or a very high hemoglobin concentration . Hemoglobin values higher than 13 .5gram per dl can lead to poor plasma volume expansion , which is also a risk for low birth weight (Steer , 2000 , qtd . in Allen 2000 . In a study by Murphy et al (1986 , the researchers reported that mothers with hemoglobin range 10 .4-13 .2 g /dl in the first 2 trimesters fared best in pregnancy

Maternal anemia in early pregnancy (first and second trimester ) can lead to preterm delivery (Allen , 2000 . Anemia in third trimester usually does not affect the pregnancy . This probably is because in the third trimester there is a higher hemoglobin concentration reflecting poor plasma volume expansion . Thus there is an inability to discriminate between low hemoglobin caused by iron deficiency from that caused by plasma volume expansion (Allen , 2000 . Murphy et al (1986 ) reported that women who were diagnosed to be...