FREQUENCY OF BETA-THALLASSEMIA TRAIT AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN THEIR LAST TRIMESTER WITH HYPOCHROMIC MICROCYTIC ANEMIA

Abstract

Background: Beta-Thalassaemia is a public health issue. Generally, very few people know about it in detail. Due to ignorance, government bear tremendous financial cost to care for it. Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study conducted in an outdoor patient department (OPD) of Gynecology and obstetrics of a Postgraduate Medical Institute at Peshawar, from August 2012 to Jan 2013. A Total of 56 women in their last trimester of pregnancy were included. Required information's were recorded on predesigned proforrma as per objectives of the study. Results: Most of the participants were of age 20 to 49 years with mean+ SD of 34+3.4years. Majority (87.5%) of the Red Blood Cell (RBC) count was equal or less than 4600000/cmm3. A few (12.5%) of the participants had their RBC count more than 4600000/cmm3. More than two-thirds (76.79%) had RDW (Red Cell Width Distribution SD) below 45%, while less (20.21%) had RDW more than 45%. The seven cases that had high RBC count underwent Hb- Electrophoresis where in two cases (3.2%) were reported to be ? -thalssaemia trait. Conclusion: Majority of the patient were having low RBC count that needed further investigations i.e Serum Ferritin to confirm the iron deficiency. Similarly those who have had high RBC count when subjected to Hb-electrophoresis, showed B.thallassemia trait. We suggest all those cases having RBC count more than 4600000/cmm3 and RDW-SD less than 45% may further be screened for thalssaemia trait, that may help to counselling families for future.