Prevalence of anemia in antenatal women at first point-of-care visit to district combined hospital, Chakia, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: The WHO global database on anemia for 1993–2005, covering almost half of the world's population, estimated the prevalence of anemia worldwide at 25%. India is one of the countries with anemia as a serious public health concern. Nearly 50% of the pregnant women in India and 51% in Uttar Pradesh were shown to be anemic as per the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015/16). Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine (1) the prevalence of anemia in women attending the Antenatal Outpatient Department of District Combined Hospital, Chakia, Uttar Pradesh and (2) the association of sociodemographic variables with anemia. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, wherein information regarding hemoglobin (Hb) levels and other variables of 631 antenatal women were taken from the records. Anemia was classified as per the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for Hb levels. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 92% using the WHO criteria and 87.6% with CDC criteria. About 63.2% of women had moderate anemia (WHO), of which 59.3% were between age group of 22 and 30 years, 61.4% were second gravidas, 60.7% came in the second trimester, and 59.8% had ≥1 live birth. There was association with blood types as well. Conclusion: Early antenatal registration, diagnosis, and management of anemia are important due to high prevalence of moderate anemia in the study area.