Prevalence of anemia (haemoglobin less than 11 gm/dl) in Asia is more than 50% and non-anaemic iron deficiency (ferritin less than 30 microgm/l) or NAID is likely to be more prevalent than this figure. It has been hypothesised that NAID in pregnancy can be linked to maternal fatigue and anaemia, and infant birth weight and growth restriction. The investigators will compare, in NAID, active intervention (therapeutic doses of parentral iron, as a directly observed complete therapy, to replenish iron stores) vs usual care (prophylactic oral iron supplementation) to prevent of maternal anaemia and fetal growth restriction in a multicentre randomised trial.
Prevalence of anemia in Asia is more than 50%. All woman who book for antenatal care with non-anaemic iron deficiency (NAID) can be offered therapeutic doses of parentral iron, as a directly observed complete therapy, to prevent of maternal anaemia and fetal growth restriction. The investigators will compare this intervention with usual care in a multicentre randomised trial.