Prenatal Iron and Malaria Study

As per recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), iron supplementation in children should be restricted in malaria-endemic areas because of concerns that it can lead to an increased burden of malaria. Universal iron supplementation continues to be recommended, however, for women during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum. Observational studies have shown that iron deficiency in parturient women is associated with a marked reduction in the prevalence and density of malarial parasites in the placenta. Plasmodium infections in pregnant women have devastating effects on the foetus and neonate, causing low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. Based on our previous work, the Kenyan government is currently drafting legislation for mandatory iron fortification of industrially milled flour. Implementation of the new fortification policy means that pregnant women will receive iron through a combination of fortified foods and supplementation. The investigators are concerned about the safety of the high iron intake resulting from such a policy.

Inclusion criteria

• Women aged 15-45 years resident in the predefined study area
• Pregnant, with gestational age <23 weeks

Exclusion criteria

• Failure to provide a blood sample
• Initial haemoglobin concentration <90 g/L
• Reported medical history suggestive of sickle cell anaemia, epilepsy, diabetes
• Obstetric history suggestive of eclampsia or pre-eclampsia
• Obvious mental retardation or metabolic disorder;
• No written consent
• Carrying multiples
• Woman planning to leave the homestead or to be absent for prolonged periods in the course of the pregnancy or within a 1-month period thereafter
• Woman planning to deliver outside the research clinic.