The Impact of Nutritional Deficiencies and Iron Deficiency Anaemia on Pregnancy Outcome Among Adult Pregnant South Asian Women in the UK: Review of Health Risks, Barriers and Policy Interventions

Rana, Hiralben Shaileshbhai (2025) The Impact of Nutritional Deficiencies and Iron Deficiency Anaemia on Pregnancy Outcome Among Adult Pregnant South Asian Women in the UK: Review of Health Risks, Barriers and Policy Interventions. Masters thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Text Rana_HS_MSc_Thesis.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License CC-BY-NC-ND Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (2MB)

Abstract

Background: Nutritional deficiency is an essential factor that impacts pregnancy outcomes. Nutritional deficiency increases the risk of anaemia, and it has different impacts such as gestational diabetes, low birth weight and preterm delivery. The main aim of the study is to examine the effect of maternal nutrition problems and iron-deficiency anaemia on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant South Asian women of reproductive age in the UK and examine related health risks, barriers to get adequate nutrition and existing policy interventions. Method: A systematic literature review (SLR) is chosen in this review as a research design. We searched PubMed, ProQuest and Google Scholar and the literature search covered the period from 1st January 2017 to 30th September 2025. Searches combined thesaurus and free‑text terms for "nutrition deficiencies", "iron‑deficiency anaemia", "pregnancy outcome", "South Asian populations", "UK setting", "Health risk", "Barriers" and "Policy interventions". Results: In this review, poor nutrition was associated with increased health risk in terms of increased risk of gestational diabetes. There is a relationship between maternal anaemia and perinatal mortality. It has also been found that maternal anaemia increases the risk of stillbirth. Increasing haemoglobin level among South Asian women is necessary in order to reduce the risk of perinatal mortality. Inadequate knowledge about nutrition and lack of access to nutrition advice are important barriers to nutrition among South Asian pregnant women. It has also been found that guidance on food by the NHS (National Health Services) is an effective intervention that helps in encouraging pregnant women to improve nutrition. The FIGO nutrition checklist is also another important factor that helps in nutritional screening of women during their pregnancy and helps in routine decision-making regarding weight and nutrition in clinical care. Fortification of food items is another essential strategy of improving maternal nutrition. Conclusion: This study concludes based on the overall findings and discussion that maternal nutrition and iron deficiency anaemia affect pregnancy outcomes and it is evident among South Asian women of reproductive age in the UK.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Theses and Dissertations > Masters Dissertations
Depositing User:	Victoria Hankinson
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2026 11:48
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2026 11:48
URI:	https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/4145

Administrator Actions (login required)

Edit Item - Repository Staff Only