Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies

Abstract

Anaemia in pregnancy is a common and worldwide problem that deserves more attention. For many developing countries, prevalence rates of up to 75% are reported. Anaemia is frequently severe in these situations and can be expected to contribute significantly to maternal mortality and morbidity. After a discussion of definitions, screening for anaemia and prevalence, the relationship between anaemia and maternal mortality and morbidity will be reviewed. Micronutrient deficiency and especially iron deficiency is believed to be the main underlying cause for anaemia. More recently the role of vitamin A deficiency as a contributing factor to anaemia has also been examined. The difficulties of assessment of micronutrient sufficiency or deficiency in pregnancy are described, as is the interaction between infection and micronutrient deficiency states.

Validity of The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of Reproductive Age (MDD-W) in Rural Rwanda

“…A lack of micronutrients before and during pregnancy may lead to adverse outcomes for both 1 The Undergraduate School of Human Life and Environmental Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo-ku, the mother and her fetus 2) . In poor-resource countries, people tend to have plant-based monotonous diets 3) , and many women of reproductive age (WRA: 15-49 years old) do not consume enough micronutrient-rich food.…”

The effect of parity on maternal body mass index, plasma mineral element status and new-born anthropometrics

“…The physiological changes in pregnancy (expansion of plasma volume, increased erythropoiesis, and increased demand of the foetal unit for iron) occur throughout gestation and vary markedly between each individual 9 . Studies have also reported alterations in blood lead during pregnancy.…”

Maternal-child health

“…A small amount of heam iron in the diet will improve absorption of non-haem iron and thus the diet composition is an important determinant of the amount of iron actually absorbed. Iron is stored in the reticulo-endothelial system as ferritin and haemosiderin (van den Broek et al, 2003).…”

“…But WHO recommends, for all pregnant women, if there are no high risk factors a combination tablet containing 60 mg of elemental iron and 250 μg of folate to be taken twice a day. Where this is not available, tablets such as ferrous sulphate, containing 60 mg of elemental iron, should be given twice a day together with one folic acid tablet (1 mg) (van den Broek et al, 2003). The side effects of oral iron administration (gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, cramps and constipation) or women's dislike of the tablets owing to smell or taste have often being blamed for treatment failure, although a literature review (Suharno et al, 1993) found out that side effects accounted for only 10% of non compliance.…”