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 .
Impact of anaemia prophylaxis in pregnancy on maternal haemoglobin, serum ferritin & birth weight.
A total of 418 pregnant women at 16 - 24 wk of gestation , from six subcentres of a rural block of Varanasi district were selected . Pregnant women ( 137 of 215 ) from 3 subcentres received the supplementation of 60 mg elemental iron as ferrous sulphate combined with 500 micrograms folic acid , daily for 100 days ( study group ) and 123 ( of 203 ) pregnant women from the other 3 subcentres  without supplementation ( control group ) could be evaluated for their pregnancy outcome . The haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels increased significantly in the study group . In the latter , the mean birth weight was 2.88 + /- 0.41 kg with low birth weight incidence of 20.4 per cent as compared to the control figures of 2.59 + /- 0.34 kg and 37.9 per cent respectively . The incidence of low birth weight was further reduced to 12.1 per cent if the supplementation could be started by 16 - 19 wk of gestation
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 .