Assessment of Cord Blood Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin Levels in Newborns of Anemic and Non Anemic Mothers in Children and Maternity Minia University Hospital

Iron deficiency in infancy may adversely influence cognitive, emotional, motor, and 
neurophysiological development. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a decrease in the total hemoglobin 
levels caused by iron deficiency, it is a major health problem affecting about 2 billions worldwide and 
about of 43% of infants in Egypt. Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy is associated with preterm 
deliveries, low birth weights, morbidity and perinatal mortality, it was thought that maternal iron 
deficiency has little or no effect on the acquisition of iron by the fetus, however, in contrast other 
investigator have found a positive correlation between maternal and newborn iron status, thus, 
understanding the relationship between maternal and fetal iron status may help inform efforts to 
prevent ID in pregnancy and infancy and improve outcomes for mothers and infants. Objective: To 
compare the mean values for pre-delivery hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations of anemic 
and non anemic mothers with the cord blood hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations of their 
newborns. Methods: This is a prospective case control study which was conducted at Children and 
Maternity Minia University Hospital, Minia governorate, during the period from March 2014 to May 
2015. The target population of this study was 200 pregnant women who were admitted to Children 
and Maternity Minia University Hospital at obstetric ward and their newborns. Results: The results 
revealed that non- anemic mothers (group, II) had significantly (p<0.01) higher blood Hb 
concentration and serum ferritin level compared to anemic mothers (group, I). There were no 
significant differences between neonates of anemic mothers and neonates of non-anemic mothers as 
regard gestational age, length and head circumference however, neonates of non-anemic mothers had 
significantly higher (p<0.01) body weight mean than those of anemic mothers. Neonates of anemic 
mothers had significantly (p<0.01) lower Hb concentration than neonates of non-anemic mothers, 
however, there was no significant difference between them as regard serum ferritin concentration. 
Neonates of anemic mothers had significantly (p<0.01) higher Hb and ferritin concentrations 
compared to their mothers. Also, neonates of non-anemic mothers had significantly (p<0.01) higher 
Hb and ferritin concentrations compared to their mothers. Conclusion: Maternal anemia is a 
significant risk factor for adverse neonatal birth weight and hematological parameters. Also, neonates 
of anemic mothers appeared to be at increased risk of developing IDA. Receiving iron supplements 
had a beneficial effect on iron status of pregnant women and decreasing the incidence of IDA and its 
adverse effects on both mothers and fetus. Iron deficiency anemia was significantly higher among low 
education women in comparison with well educated ones. Neonates of non-anemic mothers had good 
iron status compared to neonates of anemic mothers.