PREVALENCE AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ANAEMIA IN PREGNANCY: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Dr. Twinkle Sood and Dr. Divya Dhiman*

ABSTRACT

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is an important public health problem in developing countries like India. According to World Health Organization, prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in developed countries is about 14%, whereas it is still as high as 51% in the developing world. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anaemia in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at our tertiary care centre. Methods: This was cross-sectional observational study conducted over a period of 6 months. Haemoglobin estimates from pregnant females attending the out-patient department of civil hospital, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh from 1st October 2021 till 31st March 2022 were obtained. The incidence of anaemia and its associated socio demographic factors was studied and statistical analysis was done. Results: A total of 200 participants were included in the study and a prevalence rate of anaemia in pregnancy was 75%. Majority of the populations had moderate anaemia (82%), were illiterate (36%), belonged to rural class (70%) with low income (82%) and large family (80%). 45.3% of the population developed anaemia in second trimester (45.3%), were multigravida (70), with <2 years of inter pregnancy interval (48%) and 92% of were not compliant in taking iron folic acid tablets in antenatal period. Conclusions: There is a significantly high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women. Our study has also enlisted a few socio demographic factors that contribute to such high prevalence of this disease. Programs focused on target population need to be planned and implemented with active participation of locals.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Anaemia, Prevalence, Sociodemographic factors.