Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Anaemia is a major public health problem. Pregnancy is a time in which risk for developing iron deficiency anaemia is highest, because iron requirements are substantially greater than average absorbable iron intakes. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of daily vs intermittent iron supplementation in non-anaemic pregnant women on maternal and perinatal outcome.

Material and Methods: 60 healthy, non-anaemic antenatal women having period of gestation (POG) between 16 to 20 weeks were recruited for the study in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ESI-PGIMSR JOKA after written informed consent and ethical approval for the study was obtained. They were randomly allocated into two groups, one group receiving daily iron supplements(n=30) and the other group receiving two days in a week iron supplements(n=30) containing 100mg elemental iron and 500mcg of folic acid from second trimester throughout pregnancy. Maternal Hb, PCV were estimated every 4 weekly up to 28weeks and thereafter every 2 weekly till delivery & S. Ferritin was done every 8 weeks from the start of iron supplementation. Neonatal anthropometric data at birth & S. Ferritin at Day 2 of life from peripheral venous blood sampling were taken.

Results: Majority of the women who were in intermittent iron supplementation group developed anaemia during 2^nd and 3^rd trimester and only 2 women continued with the intermittent iron supplementation regimen till delivery. Neonatal iron stores were significantly decreased in women who were enrolled for intermittent iron supplementation group as compared to women with daily iron supplementation group. Mean birth weight, crown heel length and head circumference of the neonates were similar in both the groups and no stastically significant association could be drawn.

Conclusion: Daily regimen is superior to the intermittent regimen of iron prophylaxis in antenatal mothers to prevent iron deficiency anaemia during second and third trimesters. Neonatal iron stores are improved in those taking daily iron supplementation as compared to those taking intermittent iron supplementation.