Anemia Among Pregnant Women in the Sidi Bel Abbes Region (West Alegria) : An Epidemiologic Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Anaemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem in developing countries. It is associated with an increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this present work is to study of prevalence and effect of some socio-biological factors on anemia of pregnancy in a mother-and-child health center (MCH) in area of Sidi Bel Abbes. Subjects and Methods: Across sectional study was conducted during three months (march to may 2010), on a representative sample of 242 pregnant women attending MCH center in sidi bel abbes region, west of Algeria for the assessment of their hemoglobine level. Most of the women did not have a follow-up at the MHC and they had not taken iron or vitamin supplement during pregnancy. Maternal venous fasting blood samples were collected with EDTA and haemoglobin concentration (Hb); Hematocrit (Htc), Mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Mean cell volume (MCV) were determined by an electronic counter. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia (H<11g/dl) was found to be 40.08 %. Classified in each trimester, the prevalence was 17.3%, 23.8% and 50.0% in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. According to severity of anemia 36.08% having mild 49.48% moderate and 14.43% severe anemia. The study shows that 46.39% of the subject had MCV values less than standard value of 75fl suggesting microcytic anemia. No correlations were found between the hemoglobin and the maternal obstetric characteristics, in particular not between hemoglobine concentration and parity (p=0.40), betwwen Hb and number of abortion (r=0.005, p=0.30). Our study shows that age and parity were not a risk factor for anemia. Conclusions: Iron deficiency is quite frequent during third trimester of pregnancy in our study population. A comprehensive research in our country is needed on how to improve existing iron supplementation programs and the overall health care and nutritional status of women before they enter their reproductive years.