Iron Supplementation
Currently, documented evidence indicates that iron deficiency is a risk factor for anemia during pregnancy and can lead to either preterm delivery, low birth weight or an inferior neonatal health outcome (1, 2). Intake of Iron supplements during pregnancy is hitherto, a challenge to most women in developing counties (3, 4).
The long term goals of this research are to improve the nutritional status of children and mothers. The recommendations of the project also aim to decrease child mortality and morbidity while ensuring countries raise healthy women. It aims so improve the quality and quantity of food taken at home with the overall aim of improving health, productivity and quality of life.
Objectives and hypotheses
The objective of this research is to establish the efficacy of prenatal iron supplements on the haemoglobin levels of pregnant women in developing countries.
The hypotheses states that; expectant women in developing countries are need to supplement their iron intake in order to avoid anaemia.
Expected outcomes
The outcomes of this project are to map out the estimates of iron deficiencies in quality and quantity on the Kenyan population of expectant mothers. The recognition of the socio-economic and cultural issues that underlie the deficiencies, in order to establish a sustainable basic to address the deficiencies therein ought to be another expected outcome (5).
In addition, the identification of the current issues those expectant women are facing due to iron deficiencies since iron deficiency is associated with numerous adverse effects such as sepsis, risk of haemorrhage, low birth weight among others (6).
Impact on the research field
The research will shed more light on the nutritional deficiencies that expectant mothers face. It will spur the relevant government bodies to act in conducting further research on their countries and how to address then on a country or regional basis. The research will also add to the wealth of research knowledge to help address iron deficiencies in people suffering from iron deficiencies besides those who are expectant or lactating.
References
Moin A, &Lassi ZS. Can routine screening and iron supplementation for iron deficiency anemia in nonsymptomatic pregnant women improve maternal and infant outcomes?. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(3), 2015:333-335.
Lee AI, Okam MM. Anemia in pregnancy. Hematology/oncology clinics of North America, 25(2), 2011: 241-259.
Pena-Rosas JP, De-Regil LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE. Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy (Review) 2012.
Alam A, Rasheed S, Khan NU, Sharmin T, Huda TM, Arifeen SE, Dibley MJ. How can formative research inform the design of an iron-folic acid supplementation intervention starting in first trimester of pregnancy in Bangladesh?.BMC public health, 15(1), 1. 2015.
Beck K. L, Conlon CA, Kruger R, Coad J. Dietary determinants of and possible solutions to iron deficiency for young women living in industrialized countries: a review. Nutrients, 6(9), 2014:3747-3776.
Yehuda, S., & Mostofsky, D. I. Iron deficiency and overload: From basic biology to clinical medicine. New York, N.Y: Humana Press. 2010
