Interrelationships between anemia and fertility patterns in rural Egypt

The population covered in this study included rural females in the childbearing age (15-49). The description of health and nutritional status as measured by weight, height, body index, and hemoglobin levels were given. Interrelationship between reproductive performances. Gravidity, pregnancy outcome, pregnancy interval, family size and child mortality, and nutritional status, age, age at marriage, duration of married life were evaluated. The frequency distribution curve of hemoglobin in the studied population was shifted to the left indicating a high prevalence of anemia. The degree of anemia varied with age. 1n general, anemia was a major factor affecting fertility pattern. Anemic women experienced lower mean gravidity, particularly at older ages, higher percentage of sti1l births and reported abortions and a longer pregnancy interval compared to nonanemic. The population of non-fertile women was higher in the anemic group, indicating that anemia not only affect pregnancy.