Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy: Developed Versus Developing Countries

Abstract

Anaemia is the most widespread of the haematological disorders, affecting about one-third of the global population. Despite decades of public health interventions, anaemia in pregnancy remains a major health problem worldwide, with an estimated 41.8% of pregnant women being diagnosed with anaemia at some point in their gestation. At least half of the cases of anaemia in pregnant women are assumed to be due to iron deficiency, with folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic inflammatory disorders, parasitic infections like malaria, and certain inherited disorders accounting for the remaining cases. A considerable variation has been observed in the incidence and aetiology of iron deficiency anaemia among developed and developing nations, warranting differences in the screening protocols and management strategies used by clinicians in these countries. This article highlights the differences in the management of iron deficiency anaemia among low and high-income countries, with a detailed review of the policies followed in India.