Prevalence Of Maternal Anemia During Pregnancy And Its Relationships With Offspring Physical Development

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of anemia in pregnant women and to determine its relationship with physical development of their offspring in neonatal period and preschool-age.Methods: The data come from the U.S.CDC and Beijing Medical University (BMU) participated a joint evaluation of a community intervention program of folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects in China from 1991 through 1996 and the follow-up study of the children in 2000. The subjects were the mothers who had participated in the folic acid intervention program, in 16 cities in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces and their offspring, who were followed up in 2000 at 3.5～6.5 years of age. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2001 criteria for anemia in pregnancy was used to diagnose anemia. ANOVA, t test were used in measurement variables andχ2 test were used in comparation of rate or proportion, multivariable linear regressions has been used to control the confounders. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS10.0 package,α=0.05.Results: (1) Missing proportions of the data from the surrveillance system was fewer than 7%; the distribution characters of women and the children were same as those who were deleted. (2) There were 102 343 pregnant women in the study (Zhejiang province 63.0%, Jiangsu province 37.0%), hemoglobin concentration during trimesters had trend of decrease by gestational age. The prevalence of anemia in pregnant women became lower and lower from year 1993 to 1996, but still quite high, and were different among regions. Anemia was more prevalent among those who had low literacy, those who were farmers, and those who had multiple pregnancy or pregnancy frequently. (3) The offspring who were followed up, 52648(51.44%) were male, and 49695(48.56%) were female. Mean birth weight and length for male were 3353.01±429.23g and 49.7±2.1cm respectively, female were 3242.25±411.01g and 49.4±2.1cm respectively. (4) The birth weight and birth length of the children whose mother had anemia in the second or the third trimester, had a higher birth weight and birth length than those whose mother didn't get anemia in the same period (P<0.05).(5) The relationships between the material anemia and physical development of the preschool age were evaluated with both univariate and multivariate. Children whose mother had anemia in the second trimester, had a lower body weight and body length than those whose mother didn't get anemia in the same period. (6) There were some other variabes related to the physical development among preschool children, such as BMI and literacy level, occupation of the mothers.Conclusion: (1) The prevalence of anemia in pregnant women was lower gradually from 1993 to 1996 in Zhejiang and Jiangsu province, but still at a high level, it was relate to social economic level and history of childbearing. (2)The materal anemia in pregnancy not only affect the offspring's birth weight and length but also affect the height and weight when the children at preschool age.(3) Adverse Physical development rate of preschool children was more prevalent among those whose mother had low BMI, higher childbearing age, low social economic level, pregnant frequently.