Daily iron supplementation resulted in 69% reduction in incidence of anaemia at term in the intervention group compared with control [relative risk (RR) 0.31 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22, 0.44]] and 66% reduction in iron deficiency anaemia at term (RR 0.44 [95% CI 0.28, 0.68]; random model) compared with no intervention/placebo. The quality grade for these outcomes was that of ‘moderate’ level. Routine daily iron supplementation during pregnancy resulted in a significant reduction of 20% in incidence of low birthweight in the intervention group compared with control (RR 0.80 [95% CI 0.71, 0.90]). Preventive iron supplementation during pregnancy has a significant benefit in reducing incidence of anaemia in mothers and low birthweight in neonates.
malformation.
• Location. Studies from both developed and devel- oping countries were included.