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Muhammad Sarwat Mirza

Muhammad Sarwat Mirza

HANDS, Pakistan

Title: Community based interventions reduced the maternal anemia and hence reduced the low birth weight incidence

Biography

Biography: Muhammad Sarwat Mirza

Abstract

Keywords: Anemia in Pregnant women, low birth weight. Multiple Micro-nutrient, community based intervention

In Pakistan, 32% of all babies born have low birth weight which is a major contributor to new born and infant mortality and stunting of 44% of children 5 years of age.  

We conducted first prospective community based study in Pakistan that has researched the effect of Multiple Micro-nutrient (MMN) along with a set of composite community based interventions on prevalence of anemia among pregnant women and incidence of low weight births in the remotest and highly food insecure regions. The hypothesis postulated that the proper counseling and guidance at community level about nutrition, dietary intake of proper local foods and micro-nutrient supplements (including the iron-folate) may improve the nutrition status of pregnant women and hemoglobin level through improved dietary practices and ensures the regular intake of micro-nutrients. All these impact the improve birth weight of the newborn child.

Study participants were 1,204 pregnant women (600 in intervention and 604 in control group). The interventions were nutrition counselling, provision of multiple micro-nutrient and de-worming tablets, regular follow up, measurement of weight, hemoglobin in each trimester of each enrolled pregnant women

 

  • In the intervention group (69.1%) women modified their diet. Significantly higher proportion of women increased the number of meals and content
  • (98.7%) pregnant women reported regular intake of mulitple micronutrient.  
  • The change in mean haemoglobin levels in the intervention area was 2 gm/dl, which is significantly higher
  • The low birth weight among the intervention group women was 3.8%, significantly lower than the national figure of 32%. Analysis showed that per unit (kilogram) increase in weight since the enrollement higher Hb in last trimester, a higher gain in Hemoglobin and BMI levels reduced the risk of low weight birth by 0.90 times.

Conclusion:

Our study successfully demonstrated that in rural remote areas where the food insecurity already prevailed, community based provision and improving intake of Multiple Micro-Nutrient to pregnant women, deworming, dietary counselling, significantly reduce the prevalence of anemia and resultantly reduce the incidence of low birth weight.