Manage anaemia before pregnancy, Pg7

Over 57% of women in India’s reproductive age suffer from undiagnosed and untreated anaemia before conception.

• Women frequently conceive with dangerously low haemoglobin, leading to increased risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and maternal mortality.

• There is a need to shift focus from antenatal to preconception care as part of public health policy.

• Traditional oral Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation has limitations; Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose (IV FCM) is proposed as a more effective alternative.

Detailed Insights:

• Limitations of Current Practices:

  • Symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and weakness are often dismissed as routine.

  • Oral iron causes side effects (nausea, constipation, poor absorption), leading to poor compliance.

  • Anaemia is often not corrected before or during early pregnancy, limiting iron transfer to infants.

• Need for Comprehensive Screening:

  • Proactive screening for thyroid disorders, Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, and gestational diabetes is essential.

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency, which affects 49% of women of reproductive age, is often overlooked but plays a crucial role in neurological and red blood cell development.

• Policy Recommendations:

  • Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers should integrate preconception health checks into maternal health programs.

  • Families and communities should be sensitised to the value of early screening and nutritional support.

  • IV FCM delivers iron directly to the bloodstream and offers faster, more sustainable improvement in haemoglobin levels.

• Social Imperative:

  • Maternal health is a societal responsibility, not just a medical issue.

  • Preconception care can break the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition and maternal complications, ensuring healthier pregnancies and stronger children.

Mains Mock Question:

Q. “Improving maternal health requires a shift from antenatal to preconception care.” Discuss with reference to the challenges of anaemia and nutritional deficiencies in Indian women.