title: Non-anaemic iron deficiency in pregnancy: the views of health service users and health care professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in Europe is 25% and that resulting from iron deficiency is estimated at 40%. The maternal and fetal morbidity of non-anaemic iron deficiency (NAID) in pregnancy is likely to be significant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the views and opinions of health service users and clinicians concerning NAID in pregnancy in order to inform future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two semi-structured focus groups were carried out to determine health service users' views on anaemia and NAID in pregnancy. A questionnaire was administered to obstetricians, haematologists, midwives and anaesthetists to elucidate their views on NAID in pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study indicated that health service users and clinicians were interested in implementing testing for NAID in pregnancy with serum ferritin, if proven to be effective at reducing the effects of anaemia and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Clinicians had reservations in the use of intravenous iron supplementation for NAID in pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAID is now accepted as a target condition for research by health service users and clinicians. The focus of future research should be on screening for NAID and its treatment.
authors: Women's Health Research Unit, Barts and the London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Barts NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Daru
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Moores
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Dodds
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Rayment
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Allard
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: iron deficiency anaemia; non-anaemic iron deficiency; pregnancy