Conclusion Applying the CHERG rules , we recommend a 73 % reduction in anemia at term with daily iron ( alone ) supplementation or iron/folate ( combined ) vs. no intervention or placebo ; for inclusion in the LiST model .
Introduction Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world , particularly during pregnancy .
According to the literature , anemia , particularly severe anemia , is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality .
It also puts mothers at risk of multiple perinatal complications .
Numerous studies in the past have evaluated the impact of supplementation with iron and iron-folate but data regarding the efficacy and quality of evidence of these interventions are lacking .
This article aims to address the impact of iron with and without folate supplementation on maternal anemia and provides outcome specific quality according to the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group ( CHERG ) guidelines .
Providing iron/folic acid tablets free of charge improves compliance in pregnant women in Senegal.
Iron ( Fe ) deficiency and anemia during pregnancy remain highly prevalent in Senegal because of low compliance with Fe supplementation . Improving women 's access to supplements may increase compliance . Six prenatal centers in Dakar were r and omly assigned to either a control group in which women received routine prenatal visits , including prescriptions to purchase iron/folic acid tablets ( IFA ) according to the guidelines of the current Senegalese supplementation program ( n=112 ) , or to an intervention group in which women received free IFA ( n=109 ) in addition to routine prenatal care . Compliance was assessed 20 weeks after enrollment by pill count and interviews . Hemoglobin , erythrocyte protoporphyrin and serum ferritin were measured at baseline and follow-up . Compliance was 48 % and 86 % in the control and intervention groups , respectively ( P<0.001 ) . After adjustment for confounding , prevalence of anemia was 62 % in the control group versus 31 % in the intervention group ( P<0.001 ) ; prevalence of Fe deficiency was 49 % and 21 % in the control and intervention groups , respectively ( P<0.001 ) . Improving access to IFA for pregnant women visiting health centers could dramatically increase their compliance , improve Fe status and decrease the incidence of anemia
Conclusion Applying the CHERG rules , we recommend a 73 % reduction in anemia at term with daily iron ( alone ) supplementation or iron/folate ( combined ) vs. no intervention or placebo ; for inclusion in the LiST model .
Introduction Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world , particularly during pregnancy .
According to the literature , anemia , particularly severe anemia , is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality .
It also puts mothers at risk of multiple perinatal complications .
Numerous studies in the past have evaluated the impact of supplementation with iron and iron-folate but data regarding the efficacy and quality of evidence of these interventions are lacking .
This article aims to address the impact of iron with and without folate supplementation on maternal anemia and provides outcome specific quality according to the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group ( CHERG ) guidelines .