Maternal Anemia and Offspring Outcomes in India: A Scoping Review

Anemia is a global burden, with women and children being most at risk. Moreover, anemia during pregnancy has been reported to be associated with adverse outcomes for both the mother and the offspring. In India, anemia is considered a national health issue and is estimated to have the highest prevalence in the world.

To report on the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women in India, to determine offspring outcomes that have been assessed for an association with maternal anemia in India, and to identify gaps in current knowledge.

Four databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched using a systematic search strategy to identify relevant studies conducted in India. The search was limited to studies published between 1990 and 2023 and written in English. The exposure of interest was maternal anemia. The review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

A total of 15 studies were included in this review. The reported prevalence of maternal anemia ranged from 21.26% to 90.46%. A total of 37 offspring outcomes were assessed for an association with maternal anemia, and the most widely reported outcomes related to offspring birthweight.

Maternal anemia during pregnancy appears to adversely affect the physical and cognitive development of Indian children. However, it remains unclear as to whether such adverse effects persist into adolescence and adulthood. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of maternal anemia to develop suitable health interventions.