SynthesisPloS one2025
Effects of maternal anemia on low-birth-weight in Sub-Sahara African countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 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
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Maternal Vulnerability Indicators Derived from Free-Text Clinical Documentation in Adolescent Pregnancy.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Article
- Enhancing birth weight outcomes through improved antenatal care in West African countries: Evidence from propensity score matching analysis.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionMaternal anemia is a major public health concern that affects women globally, with a particularly high prevalence in developing countries, notably in sub-Saharan Africa. This condition is linked to negative birth outcomes, with low birth weight being a common consequence of maternal anemia during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of maternal anemia on low birth weight in the context of sub-Saharan African countries.
methodsThis study involved searching electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science, as well as reference lists and citation tracking for additional studies. It included cohort, case control, and cross-sectional studies published in English between January 2015 and June 2024. Data were extracted using Covidence and transferred to Microsoft Excel, then to Stata™ Version 17.0 for analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed with forest plots and the Inverse variance (I2) test. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity, while funnel plot symmetry was evaluated for publication bias. The meta-analytic effect was summarized using pooled odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and I2 tests for heterogeneity. This was registered on the PROSPERO under the identification number CRD42024561098.
resultA total of 1213 articles were identified, 71 of which were screened for full-text review, and 21 involving women from sub-Saharan African countries met the inclusion criteria, and were included in this meta-analysis. Women with anemia during pregnancy are at higher risk of giving birth to babies with low birth weight compared to women without anemia (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 2.66-4.27; I2: 96.71%).
conclusionMaternal anemia during pregnancy was identified as a significant risk factor for low birth weight. Such that the incidence of low birth weight could possibly be reduced with early identification and proper care of anemia during pregnancy.
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