SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2024
The Effects of Maternal Iron and Folate Supplementation on Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes in Africa: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Assessment of Nutritional and Nonnutritional Correlates of Anemia in Pregnancy: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study for Public Health Interventions in the Bono East Region of Ghana.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Is Iron Supplementation Associated with Infant Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and Does Birth Weight Modify These Associations?Nutrients · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIron and folate deficiency are prevalent in pregnant women in Africa. However, limited research exists on the differential effect of oral iron-only, folate-only, or Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation on adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. This systematic review addresses this gap, focusing on studies conducted in Africa with limited healthcare access. Understanding these differential effects could lead to more targeted and potentially cost-effective interventions to improve maternal and child health in these settings.
methodsA systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The primary exposures were oral iron-only, folate-only, or IFA oral supplementation during pregnancy, while the outcomes were adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. A qualitative synthesis guided by methods without meta-analysis was performed.
resultsOur qualitative synthesis analysed 10 articles reporting adverse pregnancy (adverse birth outcomes, stillbirths, and perinatal mortality) and infant outcomes (neonatal mortality). Consistently, iron-only supplementation demonstrated a reduction in perinatal death. However, evidence is insufficient to assess the relationship between iron-only and IFA supplementation with adverse birth outcomes, stillbirths, and neonatal mortality.
conclusionFindings suggested that iron-only supplementation during pregnancy may reduce perinatal mortality in African women. However, evidence remains limited regarding the effectiveness of both iron-only and IFA supplementation in reducing stillbirths, and neonatal mortality. Moreover, additional primary studies are necessary to comprehend the effects of iron-only, folate-only, and IFA supplementation on pregnancy outcomes and infant health in the African region, considering rurality and income level as effect modifiers.
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