Preconceptional Iron Supplementation Among Pregnant & Non Pregnant Women

There is a growing interest in the area of maternal and child health that is advocating for a focus on the periconceptional period to improve iron and folate status among childbearing aged women before pregnancy. An association between periconceptional folate supplementation and reduction in neural tube defects (NTDs) is already well-established (20;21). For decades, public health programs have been promoting iron supplementation during pregnancy. Attention is now being given as to whether including periconceptional iron supplementation may complement iron supplementation during pregnancy to improve maternal and infant outcomes.