Maternal Anemia in Third Trimester and Low Birth Weight (LBW): Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Babies with a low birth weight (LBW) are more likely to die or become ill. LBW refers to newborns who weigh less than 2,500 grams at birth. The presence of maternal anemia, or hemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL, is a significant risk factor for LBW. Objective: This study thoroughly investigated the connection between low birth weight and maternal anemia during the third trimester. Methods: This systematic review was conducted using the primary databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar), literature in Indonesian and English, and literature using cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control for the study researcher. Results: This systematic review included 5 cohort studies, 2 cross-sectional studies, and 1 case-control study after 2171 articles from a database were systematically examined with PRISMA. Conclusion: Maternal anemia in the third trimester is linked to low birth weight because third-trimester hemoglobin is a crucial factor in determining birth weight.