Iron status, anemia, and birth outcomes among pregnant women in urban Bloemfontein, South Africa: the NuEMI study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite routine iron supplementation for pregnant women in South Africa, anaemia and iron deficiency (ID) in pregnancy remain a public health concern.

Objective

To determine the associations between iron status and birth outcomes of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of 427 pregnant women, blood was taken to analyze biomarkers of anaemia (haemoglobin), iron status (ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor) and inflammation (C-reactive protein and α-1-acid glycoprotein). A questionnaire was used to collect information about birth outcomes (birth weight and gestational age at birth), HIV exposure, sociodemographics, iron supplement intake, and maternal dietary iron intake us

SUBMITTER: Carboo JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11452952 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature