Hemoglobin levels and prevalence of anemia in pregnant women assisted in primary health care services, before and after fortification of flour.

We evaluated hemoglobin-Hb levels and prevalence of anemia in pregnant women before and after fortification of flour. It was developed a study to evaluate intervention, of the type before and after, with independent population samples. Study was conducted in primary health care services in Maringá, PR.

Anemia in Brazilian pregnant women before and after flour fortification with iron.

Objective: To compare prevalence of anemia and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in Brazilian pregnant women before and after flour fortification with iron.

Methods: A repeated cross-sectional panel study of public health care centers of municipalities in the five Brazilian regions was conducted. Retrospective data were obtained from 12,119 medical records of pregnant women distributed in two groups: before fortification (delivery prior to June 2004) and after fortification (date of last period after June 2005).