Maternal outcome in cases of severe anaemia in labour

Abstract

Background: Anaemia is the commonest medical disorder in pregnancy and severe anaemia is associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcome.Methods: The study was done to analyse the characteristics of hospitalized pregnant women with severe anaemia (Haemoglobin < 7gms %) at the time of delivery and to find out maternal outcome. It was a prospective study done at Rajindra hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India over a period of one year from February 2016 to January 2017.Results: Results were analysed; out of 3784 deliveries 210 (5.54%) cases were severely anaemic at the time of delivery. Out of 210 women with severe anaemia 184(87.6%) patients belonged to low socioeconomic category, 177 (84.2%) were unbooked cases, 152 (72.4%) cases from rural area and 119 (57.6%) cases were multi gravidas. The maternal complications were Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (16.1%), intercurrent infections (3%), abruptio placentae (3.3%), heart failure (1.4%), preterm labours (42.8%), intrauterine deaths (10.9%) and postpartum haemorrhage (10.4%).Conclusions: Severe anaemia during pregnancy is associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality so effective preventive measures in the form of regular antenatal check-ups and iron supplementation will prevent complications of anaemia in pregnant women.