Feasibility and Acceptability of Intravenous Iron for Anaemia in Pregnancy in Bangladesh: A Demonstration Project Protocol

Abstract Antenatal anaemia affects 48% of pregnant women in South Asia. In Bangladesh, the standard of care is oral iron and folic acid supplementation, but access and adherence are poor. Intravenous iron is an alternative treatment that deliver high dose of iron in a single short infusion and is commonly used in high-income countries. A demonstration project will be conducted to test the real-world feasibility and acceptability of implementing an intravenous iron intervention to treat pregnant women with moderate and severe anaemia in the primary healthcare setting of Bangladesh. This protocol paper outlines the development, implementation, and evaluation of an intravenous iron intervention. The demonstration project consists of three phases, supported by implementation science frameworks: (1) a formative phase involving…