Prevalence of anemiain Pregnant women attending a Tertiary level hospital in western Region, Nepal

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In South Asian Region, the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women has been estimated to be 75% which is highest in the world. Hence, this study was drafted to evaluate the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women in western part of NepalMATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a hospital based cross-sectional study. A total of 200 pregnant ladies aged 15-45 years giving consent for the study were included and their detailed medical history, clinical examination and lab investigations focusing on hematological parameters were documented. Data were entered in excel sheet and analysed by SPSS (17.0).RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia in pregnant women was 48% with increased prevalence as the pregnancy proceeds and reaching its highest during third trimester of pregnancy. Young adults with age ranging from 15-30 years had highest prevalence of anemia. Mild anemia (Hb: 9-10.9 g/dl) was the commonest entity.CONCLUSION: With this high prevalence, screening for anemia during pregnancy should be done. Moreover, exogenous supplementation of iron capsules or diet rich in iron can be advised to those anaemic pregnant women.Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences (2016)Vol.04 No.02 Issue 14, page: 17-19