Alarming frequency and after effects of maternal anemia in Pakistan

Anemia is caused due to usually iron based nutritional deficiency in blood. Its severity varies from mild to fatal. Recent reported data of Pakistan indicates that anemia cannot be ignored as it may affect fetus or maternal health or may cause death of any of them. The frequent symptoms are poor fetal growth, gastrointestinal bleeding, spontaneous abortion, low infant weight, less placental size and fetal or sometimes maternal death. Moreover, current data highlights that maternal anemia is common among females of province Sindh up to alarming level than in other provinces of Pakistan. As its diagnosis is usually delayed. People ignore the symptoms and still there is lack of awareness among masses. It should be controlled by government and concerned authorities by spreading general public awareness related to preventive measures, handling and cure of maternal anemia and to ensure the lives and health of both mother and developing fetus