Comparing the Efficacy of Intermittent Versus Continuous Oral Iron Supplementation in Non–Anemic Pregnant Women Presenting for Routine Antenatal Care

Abstract

Anemia in pregnancy is a major health concern all over the world. Daily iron supplementation is used to prevent and correct iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Intermittent iron supplementation is proposed as an alternative to daily supplementation. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of Intermittent versus Continuous oral iron supplementation in non-anemic pregnant women presenting for routine antenatal care. A Prospective cross sectional study was conducted among one hundred and two non-anemic pregnant women at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences for one year. They were allocated alternatively to continuous oral iron and intermittent (4 days in a week) iron supplementation group. Baseline hemoglobin and serum ferritin was done and women having more than 10.5gm/dl hemoglobin were recruited in the study at 14-16 weeks period of gestation. Repeat hemoglobin and ferritin was done at 28 weeks period of gestation and hemoglobin at the time of delivery was noted. Maternal and perinatal outcome were analyzed among the two groups by appropriate statistical analysis. The repeat hemoglobin done at 28 weeks period of gestation and at the time of delivery was comparable between the groups. Though more women in the intermittent group developed anemia in 3rd trimester (11.46%), it was not statistically significant and none of the women in either group required blood transfusion intermittent iron supplementation is a good alternative to continuous oral iron supplementation as a prophylaxis in non-anemic pregnant women with similar efficacy