Anemia in pregnancy: A case control study from India

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in pregnancy hemoglobin (Hb) less than 11gm/dL refers to be anemia. Anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency affecting the pregnant women. In India prevalence of anemia in pregnant woman is about 65% to 75%. Anemia during pregnancy causes negative and harmful effects on mother as well as on child. Anemia increases the risk of maternal and perinatal mortality. India had the highest prevalence of anemia in pregnancy. The Highest number of anemic pregnant women in the world are in India. So the present study was planned with aim to study the anemia in pregnant women. The present case-control study was carried out in Department of Physiology at Rural Medical College Loni in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The study was approved by Institutional Ethical Committee. Total 644 subjects were recruited for the study. 161 non-pregnant women were taken as control and 483 pregnant women were taken as the cases. Hemoglobin measurements of the pregnant woman was done by Sahali’s method. Hb concentration of <11 gm/dL taken as anemia. The prevalence of anemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women were 62.93% and 82.60% respectively. Pregnant as well as non-pregnant women in India are at high risk of developing anemia. The various national programmes aimed at prevention of anemia reduced the prevalence as well as severity of anemia during pregnancy.