High prevalence of postpartum anemia among low-income women in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of anemia from 4 to 26 weeks post partum and to examine prenatal predictors of postpartum anemia.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort analysis of 59,428 participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in 12 US states.


RESULTS
The prevalence of postpartum anemia was 27%. Anemia rates were higher among minority women, reaching 48% among non-Hispanic black women. Of 9129 women who had normal hemoglobin in the third trimester, 21% had postpartum anemia. Prenatal anemia was the strongest predictor of postpartum anemia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-2.8). Maternal obesity, multiple birth, and not breast-feeding also predicted postpartum anemia.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of post partum anemia among low-income women highlights the importance of anemia screening at 4 to 6 weeks post partum. These data suggest that screening should not be limited, as it is at present, to women considered at high risk.
Bodnar
L M
LM
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, USA.
Scanlon
K S
KS
Freedman
D S
DS
Siega-Riz
A M
AM
Cogswell
M E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001213:Asian; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D006454:Hemoglobins