Prevalence and Causes of Anemia Among Pregnant Women Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration of a women during pregnancy is <11g/dL. More than 50% of pregnant women suffer from anemia and it is the second leading cause (20%) of total maternal deaths.
Aim of the study: was to estimate the prevalence and causes of anemia among pregnant women admitted in a tertiary care hospital in North India, and to determine its association with maternal and fetal outcomes.
Study design: Cross-sectional study which included 200 consecutive participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria.
Results: 200 females were evaluated out of which 171 (85.5%) were anaemic. 47% had mild, 37% patients had moderate and 1.5% had severe anemia. There was statistically significant association between anemia and age (p<0.001), parity (p<0.001), low birth weight (LBW) (p=0.05), presence of pallor (p<0.001), lethargy (p<0.001), palpitations (p=0.001), breathlessness (p=0.007) and lack of IFA intake (p<0.001). Anaemic participants had significantly higher proportion of microcytic hypochromic presentation (p=0.011), lower serum iron concentration (p<0.001), higher Total Iron Binding Concentration (TIBC) (p<0.001), lower serum ferritin (p<0.001), lower serum folate (p<0.001), lower serum B12 (p<0.001) as compared to non-anaemic participants. No statistically significant association was observed between anemia and BMI, educational level, socioeconomic status, residence (urban/ rural), trimester, gap between child birth.
Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia amongst pregnant females is highly prevalent; and to improve maternal and fetal outcomes; prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of anemia in pregnancy is to be given priority.