Fig. 1

Participant flow chart and classification of anaemia in women undergoing caesarean section. This figure classifies women into one of three groups based on their first hospital appointment haemoglobin concentration : group 1—non-anaemic, group 2 mild anaemia, and group 3 moderate anaemia. Groups 1, 2, and 3 are further divided into those women with normal iron levels and those with iron deficiency. Sixteen of the women with no iron deficiency or anaemia had various pre-existing conditions and pregnancy related conditions (four women thalassemia, one woman idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, one woman a recent history of acute myeloid leukaemia, six women with twins, and four women with placenta praevia). Hb = haemoglobin; Fe = iron