Abstract
Introduction: Maternal anemia during pregnancy can lead to poor fetal outcome as risks of morbidity and mortality is increased. Materials and Methods: All Singleton pregnancies delivered in MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala from 5 April 2012 to 5 October 2012 fulfilling the criteria were included. The pregnant mothers were grouped into 4 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: normal (=or>11), mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemia (less than 7 g/dl). Results: Out of 334 pregnant women included in the study 249 (74.6%) were found to be anemic. Among anemic mothers 9 had severe (2.7%), 51 had moderate (15.3%) and 189 had mild (56.6) anemia. The anthropometric measurements (birth weight, length, chest circumference, head circumference) with decreasing severity of anemia showed statistically significant difference (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.017, p = 0.001) respectively. It was seen that as the number of pregnancies (gravida) increases the severity of anemia increases with each pregnancy. Conclusion: Anemia during pregnancy negatively affected the anthropometric measurements of a newborn and severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v33i3.8251 J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. 2013;33(3):186-189
Highlights
Pregnant women are vulnerable to develop physiological and pathological anemia
The pregnant mothers were grouped into 4 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: normal (=or>11), mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemia
We found the prevalence of anemia in pregnant mothers to be 74.6%
Summary
Pregnant women are vulnerable to develop physiological and pathological anemia. Maternal anemia is a burden throughout the world, especially in developing countries. WHO reports that anemia affects nearly half of all pregnant women in developing world: 52% in developing countries and 23% in developed world[3]. Maternal anemia during pregnancy can lead to poor fetal outcome as risks of morbidity and mortality is increased. The pregnant mothers were grouped into 4 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: normal (=or>11), mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemia (less than 7 g/dl). Among anemic mothers 9 had severe (2.7%), 51 had moderate (15.3%) and 189 had mild (56.6) anemia. Conclusion: Anemia during pregnancy negatively affected the anthropometric measurements of a newborn and severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements
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