Prematurity, low birth weight, and
higher maternal and perinatal mortality
rate stand out as harmful consequences of
anemia during the gestational period,
Recognizing the negative effects of anemia
on health and survival of the mother and
child, the Brazilian Ministry of Health implemented
drug iron supplementation in
the Programa de Atenção à Gestante (Health
Care Program for Pregnant Women) in 1982
and subsequently in the Programa Nacional de Suplementação de Ferro (National Iron
Supplementation Program) in 2005