The influence of maternal iron- eficiency anaemia on the haemoglobin of the infant

Abstract

A review of the literature indicates that there is controversy as to whether maternal iron-deficiency anaemia influences the level of haemoglobin in the blood of infants or not. The present survey was designed to investigate this problem. The possible influence of maternal iron-deficiency anaemia on the infant was considered under two headings: (a) in the newborn infant and (b) at 3 months of age, before dietary effects are likely to have influenced the infant's iron nutrition. Selected mothers (White and Cape Coloured) were divided into two groups: one consisting of women whose mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration values were 27% or less at term and the other, whose values were 310% or more. The infants of these mothers were investigated. It was found that there was no significant difference of mean haemoglobin level in the infants, during the first 24 hours of life or at 3 months of age, born to either the anaemic or non-anaemic mothers.