Anaemia during pregnancy: impact on birth outcome and infant haemoglobin level during the first 18 months of life

To determine the effect of maternal anaemia on pregnancy outcome and describe its impact on infant haemoglobin level in the first 18 months of life, we conducted a prospective study of 617 pregnant women and their children in Benin. Prevalence of maternal anaemia at delivery was 39.5%, and 61.1% of newborns were anaemic at birth. Maternal anaemia was not associated with low birth weight [OR = 1.2 (0.6–2.2)] or preterm birth [OR = 1.3 (0.7–2.4)],...