Maternal Dietary Intakes, Red Blood Cell Indices and Risk for Anemia in the First, Second and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy and at Predelivery

Abstract

As anemia remains a major public health problem in Ghana, we examined the effect of dietary intakes, and antenatal care (ANC) practices on red cell indices and anemia prevalence during the pregnancy continuum for 415 women. Dietary history was taken using the Food and Agriculture Organization minimum dietary diversity indicator for women (MDD-W). Intake of ≥5 food groups was a proxy for micronutrient adequacy. Odds for anemia and meeting the MDD-W were estimated using ordinal and binary logistic regressions respectively. Intakes of 41.4% were micronutrient inadequate. At any time point in pregnancy, 54.4% were anemic (mild = 31.1%; moderate = 23.1%; severe = 0.2%) with 10%-point variation across the first (57.3%), second (56.4%) and third (53.3%) trimesters and pre-delivery (47.7%); 27.8% were anemic throughout pregnancy while 17.1% were never anemic. Morphologically, microcytic (79.4%) and hypochromic (29.3%) anemia were most prevalent, indicating nutritional deficiencies. Planning the pregnancy was a significant determinant for meeting the MDD-W. Overall, adolescence, poor diet, suboptimum ANC and underweight were associated with moderate and severe anemia. In specific time-points, dietary counselling, malaria, iron-folic acid supplementation, sickle cell disease and preeclampsia were observed. Decline of anemia during pregnancy suggests the positive impact of ANC services and supports strengthening education on dietary diversification during ANC.

Factors associated with iron deficiency anaemia among pregnant teenagers in Ashanti Region, Ghana: A hospital-based prospective cohort study

“…In this study maternal MUAC was associated with iron deficiency anaemia. The participants who were wasted (using MUAC) (OR = 1.2, p = 0.543, 95%CI = 0.6–2.3) were more likely to be anaemic, and this was consistent with a study among pregnant adults in Ghana [ 26 ]. This implies that wasting can be associated with anaemia during pregnancy.…”

Dietary Diversity and Its Contribution in the Etiology of Maternal Anemia in Conflict Hit Mount Cameroon Area: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Eating out of home is associated with poor dietary quality and a predisposing factor for higher energy and fats relative to lower micronutrient intake ( 61 ). In addition, out of home foods are limited in essential nutrients especially, vitamin C, calcium, and iron ( 57 , 62 , 63 ).…”

Maternal anemia and severe maternal morbidity in a US cohort

“…Anemia affects approximately fifty-six million pregnant women globally, including over 50% of women in some countries, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and significantly contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality throughout the world. 2,3,[7][8][9] While a physiologic reduction in hemoglobin occurs in pregnancy due to the disproportionate increase in intravascular volume compared to the increase in red cell production, 6,10 pathologic states of anemia are associated with more frequent adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher rates of blood product transfusion, cesarean delivery, hysterectomy, preterm delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), and other adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.…”