The risks for pre-term delivery and low birth weight are independently increased by the severity of maternal anaemia

Abstract Objective: To estimate the impact of severity of maternal anaemia on various perinatal outcomes. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Labour ward, Muhimbili National Hospital,, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Eligible mothers admitted for delivery between 15 November 2002 and 15 February 2003 had their haemoglobin measured. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, iron supplementation, malaria prophylaxis, blood transfusion during current pregnancy, current and previous pregnancy outcomes were collected and analyzed. Anaemia was classified according to WHO (Normal Hb≥11.0g/dl; mild Hb: 9.0-10.9g/dl; moderate Hb: 7.0-8.9g/dl; and severe H