Maternal Health and Anaemia in India
In India, maternal health is often viewed primarily through the lens of pregnancy and childbirth. However, it is crucial to understand that a woman's health before pregnancy significantly impacts both her pregnancy and the well-being of her child. A pressing issue is that over 57% of women in their reproductive age are affected by undiagnosed and untreated anaemia.
Impact of Anaemia
- Women with anaemia experience symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and weakness.
- Low haemoglobin levels increase risks such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications like pre-eclampsia and post-partum hemorrhage.
Current Strategies for Anaemia Management
The primary strategy has been oral Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, though it has limitations like nausea, constipation, and poor absorption which lead to low adherence.
Comprehensive Approach for Anaemia
- Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose (IV FCM) is proposed as a safer and more effective alternative, delivering iron directly into the bloodstream.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, affecting nearly 49% of women of reproductive age, and thyroid disorders exacerbate anaemia.
- Combining injectable Vitamin B12 and Folate with IV Iron can prevent refractory anaemia.
Importance of Preconception Health
Emphasizing preconception health involves community engagement and proactive measures:
- Encouraging preconception health check-ups through family influence.
- Accredited Social Health Activists and Anganwadi workers should incorporate preconception health education.
Call to Action
Improving maternal health is a societal imperative requiring collaboration among families, healthcare systems, policymakers, and communities. Normalizing preconception check-ups and expanding interventions like IV FCM can help provide a safe and healthy pregnancy. This proactive approach is essential to ensure that no woman enters pregnancy anaemic and no child is affected by preventable deficiencies.
Conclusion
Making preconception care routine is critical. To ensure healthier future generations, mothers must be healthy at the start of pregnancy.
