Birth Weight in Relation to the Iron Status of the Pregnant Women

Abstract

Low availability and poor absorption of iron and repeated and closely spaced pregnancies place a constant drain on the iron stores of pregnant women. The increased iron requirement during pregnancy often outstrip the available supply of iron and induce low level of haemoglobin and haematocrit values resulting in decreased oxygen carrying capacity and impairment in foetal growth. Thus iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy may be on important risk factor contributing to the high incidence of low birth weight. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the maternal iron status and birth weight of infants of selected mothers.