| Abstract: | Maternal anemia is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in developing countries. It is responsible for intrauterine growth retardation, pre-term labor, intrauterine death, and birth of very low-birth-weight infants who die soon after birth, leading to a high perinatal mortality. This article discusses the incidence and prevalence of maternal anemia in developing countries. According to reviews, the highest prevalence rates of maternal anemia in the reproductive age group and pregnant women are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In these regions, it is estimated that two-thirds of pregnant women and one-half of the nonpregnant women are anemic. Causes of anemia cited in this article include malaria, which causes destruction of red blood cells; and iron deficiency, which hinders the immune system's ability to fight infection. In the successful management of anemia, reliable techniques for detection, assessing its severity and monitoring the response to appropriate treatment should be available. Moreover, programs such as the National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme, which comprehensively covered the promotion consumption of iron and folate supplements, are much needed. |
