Maternal Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Significantly Greater Risk Factor for Anaemia in Australian Aboriginal Children than Low Birth Weight or Prematurity

Hansen, Martin; Singh, Gurmeet; Barzi, Federica; Brunette, Raelene; Howarth, Timothy; Morris, Peter; Andrews, Ross; Kearns, Therese

doi:10.1007/s10995-020-02913-7

Published: 03 June 2020

Maternal Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Significantly Greater Risk Factor for Anaemia in Australian Aboriginal Children than Low Birth Weight or Prematurity

Martin Hansen¹,
Gurmeet Singh^1,2,
Federica Barzi²,
Raelene Brunette³,
Timothy Howarth²,
Peter Morris^1,2,
Ross Andrews² &
Therese Kearns²

Maternal and Child Health Journal volume 24, pages 979–985 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objectives

To identify maternal and perinatal risk factors associated with childhood anaemia.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in three remote Katherine East Aboriginal communities in Northern Territory, Australia. Children born 2004–2014 in Community A and 2010–2014 in Community B and C, and their respective mothers were recruited into the study. Maternal and child data were linked to provide a longitudinal view of each child for the first 1000 days from conception to 2-years of age. Descriptive analyses were used to calculate mean maternal age, and proportions were used to describe other antenatal and perinatal characteristics of the mother/child dyads. The main outcome was the prevalence of maternal anaemia in pregnancy and risk factors associated with childhood anaemia at age 6 months.

Results

Prevalence of maternal anaemia in pregnancy was higher in the third trimester (62%) compared to the first (46%) and second trimesters (48%). There was a strong positive linear association (R² = 0.46, p < 0.001) between maternal haemoglobin (Hb) in third trimester pregnancy and child Hb at age 6 months. Maternal anaemia in pregnancy (OR 4.42 95% CI 2.08–9.36) and low birth weight (LBW, OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.21–5.70) were associated with an increased risk of childhood anaemia at 6 months of age.

Conclusions for Practice

This is the first study to identify the association of maternal anaemia with childhood anaemia in the Australian Aboriginal population. A review of current policies and practices for anaemia screening, prevention and treatment during pregnancy and early childhood would be beneficial to both mother and child. Our findings indicate that administering prophylactic iron supplementation only to children who are born LBW or premature would be of greater benefit if expanded to include children born to anaemic mothers.

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Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia
Martin Hansen, Gurmeet Singh & Peter Morris
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
Gurmeet Singh, Federica Barzi, Timothy Howarth, Peter Morris, Ross Andrews & Therese Kearns
Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Katherine, NT, Australia
Raelene Brunette

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Martin Hansen
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Gurmeet Singh
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Federica Barzi
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Raelene Brunette
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Timothy Howarth
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Peter Morris
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Ross Andrews
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Therese Kearns
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Correspondence to Therese Kearns.

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Hansen, M., Singh, G., Barzi, F. et al. Maternal Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Significantly Greater Risk Factor for Anaemia in Australian Aboriginal Children than Low Birth Weight or Prematurity. Matern Child Health J 24, 979–985 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02913-7

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Published: 03 June 2020
Issue Date: August 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02913-7

Keywords

Anaemia
Maternal and child health
Australian aboriginal