Hemoglobin levels in pregnant women and its outcomes

Women of fertile age and pregnant-lactating as well as their infants and young children are particularly affected with iron deficiency and its anemia resulting in serious health and functional consequences. It is estimated that about 2,150million people are iron deficient, and that this deficiency is severe enough to cause anemia in 1,200million people globally. About 90% of all anemias have an iron deficiency component. Roughly 47% of non-pregnant women and 60% of pregnant women have anemia worldwide, and including iron deficiency without anemia the figures may approach 60 and 90% respectively. In the industrial world as a whole, anemia prevalence during pregnancy averages 18%, and over 30% of these populations suffer from iron deficiency.2