Severe anemia in pregnancy results in relatively poor maternal and fetal outcome. Maternal effects are preterm labor, preeclampsia, sepsis and postpartum hemorrhage and increase need of blood transfusion. In India, the decision to recommend appropriate supplementation for IDA in pregnant women is left to the health care personnel and based on the individual maternal condition.

To assess the problems/limitations of health care practitioners to treat IDA with IV iron sucrose in pregnant women and to suggest ways forward for expansion of its use with confidence.

The questionnaire included 18 questions altogether related to treatment, influencing factors for treatment, risk factors, attitutes and awareness about parenteral iron sucrose supplementation. All data were entered into an electronic database without personal identifiers to maintain confidentiality. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 17.0.

The survey consisted of responses from 107 health care professionals from urban and rural practitioners in India. Out of 107, 28.1% respondents said that the majority of the anemic patients were between 9.9 and 7.0 mg/dl Hb—moderate category. A total of 78 (72.90%) said that they would recheck Hb levels 4 weeks after oral ion treatment for checking the patient's response. Of the respondents, 42.52% of them said that the women were compliant and took supplementation as per prescription. All respondents agreed that there could be a mean 58% reduction of blood transfusions by using IV iron sucrose. Many respondents (74, 79.44%) expressed interest to have more information from recent research to expand the indications for use.

Dissemination of information related to IV iron sucrose to all practitioners and reduction in costs would help them to expand the use with confidence and avert many complications related to maternal and fetal health due to gestational anemia.

Divakar H. Iron-deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women: What preventing Practitioners from using IV Iron Sucrose. Int J Infertility Fetal Med 2012;3(1): 1-7.