Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41327070›Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Modifiable risk factors for anemia in pregnancy: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Woldeteklehaymanot Kassahun Dagne, Mulu Shiferaw, Solomon Gedfie, Abdu Jemal, Muluken Gashaw, Getinet Kumie, Alembante Bazezew, Assefa Sisay, Wagaw Abebe, Marye Nigatie and 11 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Woldeteklehaymanot Kassahun DagneDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia. teklu1142@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5769-0944
Mulu ShiferawDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Solomon GedfieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Abdu JemalDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Muluken GashawDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Getinet KumieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Alembante BazezewDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Assefa SisayDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Wagaw AbebeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Marye NigatieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Tadesse MisganawDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Zelalem AsmareDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Ermias GetachewDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Yalewayker GashawDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Agenagnew AshagreDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Zewdu TeferaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Bewuketu Belete AlemuDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Ephrem TamratDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Brhanu KassanewDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Zelalem DejazmachDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Melese Abate RetaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Woldia University, P.O. box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnemia during pregnancy affects more than one-third of women globally, with the heaviest burden in low- and middle-income countries. It contributes substantially to maternal morbidity, adverse birth outcomes, and increased neonatal mortality. Despite extensive research, there remains a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis on modifiable determinants to guide effective, targeted interventions. This umbrella review aimed to consolidate evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on modifiable risk factors associated with anemia in pregnancy.

methodsA systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Epistemonikos, Hinari, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. Search terms combined controlled vocabulary and free-text keywords including anemia, hemoglobin, iron deficiency, determinants, pregnant women, systematic review, and meta-analysis. Boolean operators (OR/AND) were applied, and the search was limited to English-language publications from 2014 to 2024. Eligible studies included systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining risk factors for anemia among pregnant women. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool, and synthesis followed JBI guidance to ensure rigor and transparency. Certainty of evidence assessed using GRADE.

resultsOf 13,348 records identified, 10 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. The synthesis highlighted several modifiable risk factors. Nutritional determinants included low dietary diversity (RR = 2.38-3.59), poor dietary practices (AOR = 1.63-2.97), and inadequate iron/folic acid supplementation (AOR = 1.38-1.82). Maternal health conditions, particularly intestinal parasite infections (AOR = 2.18-4.34) and malaria (AOR = 1.94-11.19), showed strong associations. Sociodemographic risks included low maternal education (AOR = 1.34-2.04), short birth intervals (< 24 months; AOR = 1.27-2.84), adolescent pregnancy (AOR = 2.60), large family size (AOR = 1.58-1.95), and rural residence (RR = 1.56). Limited healthcare access, especially lack of antenatal care (AOR = 1.36-2.02), further increased risk. Considerable heterogeneity (I²=0-94.5%) and low-to-moderate certainty ratings (GRADE) suggest variability across settings and highlight context dependence.

conclusionsAnemia during pregnancy arises from multiple modifiable factors, including poor nutrition, low dietary diversity, adolescent pregnancy, and infections like malaria and intestinal parasites. This umbrella review highlights the importance of developing context-specific interventions and implementing multisectoral policies that integrate nutrition and infection-control strategies to reduce the global burden of maternal anemia.

Indexed as

AnemiaAnemia, Iron-DeficiencyPregnancy Complications, HematologicFemaleHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicPregnancyRisk FactorsSystematic Reviews as TopicAnemiaModifiable risk factorsPregnancyUmbrella review

Identifiers

PMID41327070
PMCPMC12777396

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.