Anaemia in pregnant Indian women in Johannesburg.

A study was performed in 100 subjects to determine the prevalence and cause of anaemia in pregnant Indian women in the Johannesburg area. The geometric mean serum ferritin concentration in all three trimesters of pregnancy was below 12 micrograms/l, with 43.3% of women in the first, 48.6% in the second and 80.0% in the third trimester having concentrations below this value. Estimation of body iron stores revealed a mean deficit of 265 mg iron in subjects in the third trimester, 20% of whom had iron deficiency anaemia. No difference in iron status was demonstrable in subjects from different religious backgrounds. Folate and vitamin B12 nutrition was adequate. Three subjects were diagnosed as being beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes. The findings underline the need for routine iron supplementation of pregnant Indian women in the Johannesburg area.