Association of anemia,pre-eclampsia and eclampsia with seasonality: A realist systematic review

Seasonal patterns influencing maternal health have been documented globally and are of particular importance for women in developing countries who disproportionately suffer from anemia, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. This paper adopts a realist systematic approach to investigate the maternal outcome of anemia and eclampsia in relation to seasonality. A review of 23 published studies shows a statistically significant link between these maternal disorders and seasonality in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South Asia. Anemia and eclampsia tend to decrease during the dry season, only to increase with greater rainfall, low and cold temperatures. Numerous studies suggest that the seasonality of anemia and eclampsia is associated with changes in malaria transmission. This was observed during the rainy season, suggesting a potential seasonal relationship with malaria as a driver of these disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia and eclampsia were principally exacerbated among primigravidae and young women. Food insecurity, access to antenatal care, poverty, and environmental factors may also play a crucial role in the predisposition to these disorders. More research is required to identify the seasonal link between malaria and eclampsia particularly as climate change may exacerbate the rate of the disorders in tropical and sub-tropical areas.