IRON AND FOLATE STATUS IN ZAIRIAN MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORNS

An evaluation of iron and folate status was carried out on 166 Zairian pregnant women from Kinshasa at delivery and in cord blood from their newborns. Anemia, defined as a low hematocrit value (< 33%), was observed in 38% of pregnant women. Iron deficiency, recognized by a combination of abnormal values for serum ferritin level (less-than-or-equal-to 12-mu-g/l) and transferrin saturation (< 16%) was present in 54% of pregnant women. Folate deficiency, defined by a red blood cell folate of less than 100-mu-g/l, was observed in 6% of cases. In anemic mothers, anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 57% of cases and with folate deficiency in 5%. Correlations between maternal and newborn iron and folate indicators were found. This study points out the necessity for developing strategies in African countries to combat nutritional anemias during pregnancy by specific measures combined with general strategies.