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Assessing the Effects of Maternal Anemia on Child Development in Benin

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Book cover Neuropsychology of Children in Africa

Part of the book series: Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology ((STPN))

Abstract

More than 50 % of women develop moderate anemia during pregnancy with about 5–10 % of women developing severe anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa. Severe anemia increases the risk of mortality and morbidity in mothers, but there is limited information on anemia during pregnancy and cognitive outcome in childhood despite the very high prevalence of anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main goal of this research project is to study the relationship between anemia in pregnancy and cognitive function in childhood. This study takes advantage of a group of infants born following a randomized controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in women during pregnancy funded by the European Union. Mothers have been followed from the second trimester of pregnancy until delivery including at least three blood samples with infections (malaria) and micronutrient deficiencies analyses. Offspring are assessed with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at 12 months of age. A blood draw is also performed assessing Hb concentration, infections (malaria), iron deficiency, and lead in blood. So far, preliminary results show significant associations between impaired development and both environmental and care giving quality risk factors.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Pr Karen Day from New York University School of Medicine, Pr Leslie Davidson from the Mailman School of Public Health from Columbia University in the USA, and Pr Achille Massougbodji from the Faculté des Sciences de la Santé in Benin for their support and advices for this study and Anne B. Giordani, Ph.D. ELS, for editorial assistance.

Financial Support

This study is supported through EDCTP and through a grant (R21-HD060524) from the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRD UMR 216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France

    Florence Bodeau-Livinec M.D., Ph.D., Michel Cot M.D., Ph.D. & Ghislain K. Koura M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France

    Florence Bodeau-Livinec M.D., Ph.D., Michel Cot M.D., Ph.D. & Ghislain K. Koura M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Rennes, France

    Florence Bodeau-Livinec M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology/Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, 965 Fee Road, Room A227, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Michael J. Boivin Ph.D.

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychology Section, 2101 Commonwealth Blvd, Suite C, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Michael J. Boivin Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Florence Bodeau-Livinec M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Michel Cot M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Ghislain K. Koura M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Michael J. Boivin Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florence Bodeau-Livinec M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Psychiatry and Neurology/Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, West Fee Hall 324, East Lansing, 48824-1315, Michigan, USA

    Michael J. Boivin

  2. , Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Commonwealth Blvd, Suite C 2101, Ann Arbor, 48105, Michigan, USA

    Bruno Giordani

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Bodeau-Livinec, F., Cot, M., Koura, G.K., Boivin, M.J. (2013). Assessing the Effects of Maternal Anemia on Child Development in Benin. In: Boivin, M., Giordani, B. (eds) Neuropsychology of Children in Africa. Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6834-9_10

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