OBJECTIVE: Gestational Anaemia (GA) is common in developing countries. This study assessed the relationship of late GA and negative perinatal outcomes in participants recruited in a reference maternity unit of the Caribbean region of Colombia. DESIGN: Prospective analytical birth cohort study. Maternal haemoglobin and serum ferritin (SF) levels were measured. GA was defined as haemoglobin levels <11 g/dL, SF depletion as SF levels <12 ng/mL. Birth outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PB) and small for gestational age (SGA) were examined. SETTING: Mothers in the first stage of labour, living in urban or rural areas of Bolívar, were enrolled in an obstetrical centre located in Cartagena, Colombia. Blood and stool samples were taken prior delivery. Maternal blood count, SF levels and infant anthropometric data were recorded for analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 1,218 pregnant women aged 18 - 42 years-old and their newborns. RESULTS: Prevalence of GA and SF depletion was 41.6% and 41.1%, respectively. GA was positively associated with poverty-related sociodemographic conditions. Prenatal care attendance lowered the risk of PB, LBW and SGA. Birth weight was inversely associated with haemoglobin levels, observing a -36.8 g decrease in newborn weight per 1 g/dl of maternal haemoglobin. SF depletion, but not anaemia was associated with PB. Small for gestational age (SGA) outcome showed a significant association with anaemia, but not a significant relationship with SF depletion. CONCLUSION: Birth weight and other-related perinatal outcomes are negatively associated to haemoglobin and SF depletion. Prenatal care attendance reduced the risk of negative birth outcomes.

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