Abstract
Background: Anemia during pregnancy is common worldwide, and it is also reported in Lahore, Pakistan, but it is not well documented in women residing in the Walled City of Lahore (WC). The study was designed to compare the pregnant female population of walled and new Lahore (NC) city for the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency.
 Methods: All the females were within the second trimester of pregnancy with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria of age between 18-45 years. 446 venous blood samples were drawn, out of which 180 belong to WC and 266 to NC. After informed consent, demographic information, including age, gravidity, education, and socioeconomic status, was collected. A complete blood count test was performed to get results for hemoglobin, MCV, and MCH. Total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, and hepcidin levels were checked on ELISA 96-wells plates.
 Results: The prevalence of anemia in WC samples is 58.3%, and in NC samples, it is 42.4%. A decrease in hepcidin is significantly (p < 0.05) associated with age and gravidity in both populations.
 Conclusion: It is concluded that anemia control programs should focus on WC women with extra efforts as anemia and iron deficiency are more prevalent. Making intelligent and focused efforts about this public health worry, Pakistan may succeed in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2025 about eradicating anemia.
Highlights
Anemia is characterized either as a low number of red blood cells or a low level of hemoglobin [1]
Our study focuses on the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women of the Walled City of Lahore and compares it with pregnant women residing in New City Lahore
446 samples were subjected to analysis. 266 samples belonged to new Lahore city, and 180 were from the Walled City of Lahore
Summary
Anemia is characterized either as a low number of red blood cells or a low level of hemoglobin [1]. Dizziness, and increased vulnerability to infections in reproductive-aged women Still, it raises the likelihood of adverse health problems for both the fetus and mother during pregnancy, including abortion, preterm labor, intrauterine growth retardation, stillbirth, and mortality [13–15]. The Walled City area of Lahore lacks health maintenance and faces a lot of problems, especially about women’s health There is a low literacy rate of women, and poverty is another issue that incorporates ill health [26,27] Compared to these New City Lahore women, the population has more literacy and awareness of their health. The study was designed to compare the pregnant female population of walled and new Lahore (NC) city for the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency. Making intelligent and focused efforts about this public health worry, Pakistan may succeed in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2025 about eradicating anemia
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