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 .
Do side-effects reduce compliance to iron supplementation? A study of daily- and weekly-dose regimens in pregnancy.
Side-effects of iron supplementation lead to poor compliance . A weekly-dose schedule of iron supplementation rather than a daily-dose regimen has been suggested to produce fewer side-effects , thereby achieving a higher compliance . This study compared side-effects of iron supplementation and their impact on compliance among pregnant women in Bangladesh . These women were assigned to receive either weekly doses of 2 x 60 mg iron ( one tablet each Friday morning and evening ) or a daily dose of 1 x 60 mg iron .  Fifty antenatal care centres were r and omly assigned to prescribe either a  weekly- or a daily-supplementation regimen ( 86 women in each group ) . Side-effects were assessed by recall after one month of supplementation and used for predicting compliance in the second and third months of supplementation . Compliance was monitored using a pill bottle equipped with an electronic counting device that recorded date and time whenever the pill bottle was opened . Of five gastrointestinal side-effects ( heartburn , nausea , vomiting , diarrhoea , or constipation ) assessed , vomiting occurred more frequently in the weekly group ( 21 % ) than in the daily group ( 11 % , p<0.05 ) . Compliance ( ratio between observed and recommended tablet intake ) was significantly higher in the weekly-supplementation regimen ( 93 % ) than in the daily-supplementation regimen ( 61 % , p<0.05 ) . Overall , gastrointestinal side-effects were not significantly associated with compliance . However , the presence of nausea and /or vomiting reduced compliance in both the regimens-but only among women from the lower socioeconomic group . In conclusion , weekly supplementation of iron in pregnancy had a higher compliance compared to daily supplementation of iron despite a higher frequency of side-effects . The findings support the view that gastrointestinal side-effects generally have a limited influence on compliance , at least in the dose ranges studied . Efforts to further reduce side-effects of iron supplementation may not be a successful strategy for improving compliance and effectiveness of antenatal iron supplementation
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 .