title: An Observational Study on the Use of IV Iron Sucrose Among Anaemic Pregnant Women in Government Healthcare Facilities from Two States of India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In India oral iron tablets for anaemia have been distributed through the health system since many years, but there has been no significant change in the burden of anaemia. The objective of the present study was to capture the existing practices on the use of intravenous iron sucrose (an alternative treatment for anaemia) in the public health system in two states of India (Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study in the form of a registry was maintained for 3 months at purposively chosen public health facilities in the above-mentioned states of India. Anaemic pregnant women (n = 764) who were given intravenous iron sucrose during the antenatal or post-partum period were included in the registry. Information was collected on severity of anaemia at which intravenous iron sucrose therapy was initiated, the dose and schedule given and any adverse events noted during and immediate post-infusion period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  99 % of the infusions were given as slow infusion over a mean duration of 30 min, diluted with 0.9 % sodium chloride. The mean haemoglobin level at the time of start of intravenous therapy was 8.3 gm/dl. In Uttar Pradesh, 46 % of women received only one dose of iron sucrose in contrast with 15 % in Tamil Nadu.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although intravenous iron sucrose is commonly used in pregnant anaemic women, standard protocols and guidelines for its usage are lacking. These need to be formulated before scaling it up across public health facilities in India.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, 122002 Haryana India.
authors.forename: Niveditha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Devasenapathy
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, 122002 Haryana India.
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, 122002 Haryana India.
authors.forename: Premjeeth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moodbidri
authors.affiliation: Maternal Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhushan
authors.affiliation: WHO, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sunanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, 122002 Haryana India.
authors.forename: Sanjay P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zodpey
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon, 122002 Haryana India.
authors.forename: Sutapa B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Neogi
keywords: Anaemia; Haemoglobin; Iron sucrose; Oral iron; Pregnancy