260681 Influence of anaemia during pregnancy on the health status of the newborn

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Andrzej Wojtyla, MD PhD , Director, Institute of Agricultural Medicine Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Przemyslaw Bilinski, MD, PhD , Chief Sanitary Inspector, Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
Piotr Holownia, PhD , Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Warsaw, Poland
Cezary Wojtyla , Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
Krzysztof Warzocha, MD PhD , Director, Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Warsaw, Poland
The problem of anaemia during pregnancy constitutes a major public health issue not only in developing countries but in also in ones from the developed world. A large randomised population study was undertaken in Poland on post-partum women, (n=6000), and their newborns representing all obstetric hospital departments throughout the country. Cases of anaemia were diagnosed in 27% of the mothers and in 20% newborns. Statistically significant differences were found in the decreased body mass of newborns in mothers with anaemia compared to normal as well as a worsened APGAR scale measuring the health status of the newborn. Treatment of anaemia has a significant effect on its prevention during pregnancy. This should be taken into account even in those countries without significant problems of malnutrition. The underlying causes of this anaemia, whether through inappropriate diet or other lifestyle behaviours, (eg. alcohol, smoking), are under investigation.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Basic medical science applied in public health
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Learning objectives; Investigate and assess the effects of anaemia on the mother and newborn leading to a design of appropriate remedial action especially to determine the causes.

Keywords: Anemia, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: MD; Poznan University of Medical Sciences (1980), and PhD at the Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington (1996); ‘Using American experience in health expenditure control while reforming the Polish health system’. Specialisations include paediatrics, agricultural medicine, public health and health administration. Posts; Hospital Medical Practioner, GP centres Director. Governmental/parliamentary postings eg. Polish Minister of Health (1992-94), Health Undersecretary of State (2005-now), Chief Sanitary Inspector (2006-9) and Director of the Institute of Agricultural Medicine.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.