Low haemoglobin levels, its determinants and associated features among pregnant women in Islamabad and surrounding region.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the haemoglobin levels in pregnant women and to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional survey, a total of 200 patients visiting prenatal clinic of Shifa International Hospital/Shifa Foundation Community Health Centres, Islamabad over the period of six months, both booked and non-booked were included. A detailed questionnaire was filled and complete blood count, peripheral smear and absolute values were performed in all cases. Haemoglobin levels (Hb) of women below 10.5g/dl were considered to be low (anaemia) and were further subjected to urine/stool routine examination. Cases of thalasaemia trait were excluded from the study. All the data was entered in SPSS v 10.0. Descriptive analysis was done obtaining frequencies for socio-demographic factors. Mean haemoglobin levels along with standard deviation and confidence interval were reported. Frequency of helminthic infestation of suspected cases was also reported. Analysis included any significant differences in mean haemoglobin levels of booked versus non-booked cases.


RESULTS
Mean haemoglobin of our study population was 11.0 +/- 1.64 g/dl. Frequency of decreased haemoglobin was found to be in 42.5%. Mean haemoglobin of patients having income less than Rs5000 was 10.5 +/- 1.24 g/dl and those with income more than Rs5000/month had a mean Haemoglobin of 11.5 +/- 1.44g/dl. Mean haemoglobin of patients with history with or without pica eating was 10.1 +/- 1.31g/dl and 11.9 +/- 1.56g/dl respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Low haemoglobin was commonly seen in our population among pregnant women irrespective of their socioeconomic status. The severity of anaemia was significantly associated with lower socioeconomic status and odd eating habits.
Ayub
Rukhsana
R
Section of OBS/GYN, Shifa College of Medicine.
Tariq
Nabia
N
Adil
Malik Muhammad
MM
Iqbal
Mobeen
M
Jaferry
Tara
T
Rais
Shan Rasul
SR
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006454:Hemoglobins