FREQUENCY OF ANAEMIA IN FULL TERM PREGNANT WOMEN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/v7m48477Keywords:
Anemia, Birth Weight, Gestational Age, Hemoglobin, Pregnancy Complications, Socioeconomic Factors, Women’s HealthAbstract
Background: Anemia during pregnancy remains a major global health issue, with iron deficiency as its leading cause. It affects nearly half of all pregnant women worldwide and is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. The physiological changes of pregnancy increase the demand for iron, and when unmet, this leads to anemia, which is strongly associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, especially low birth weight (LBW).
Objective: To examine the frequency of anemia and its association with low birth weight among women with full-term pregnancies.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SMBBMU, Larkana, over six months from January to June 2022. A total of 212 full-term pregnant women were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected on maternal hemoglobin levels, serum ferritin, birth weight of the neonate, age, height, weight, BMI, gestational age, gravidity, parity, booking status, socioeconomic and educational status, residential area, and history of preterm births. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, with chi-square tests applied to identify significant associations.
Results: Among the participants, 145 (68.4%) were found to be anemic, and 66 (31.13%) delivered low birth weight infants. The mean maternal age was 27.4 ± 2.45 years, mean BMI was 24.31 ± 1.61 kg/m², mean gestational age was 36.2 ± 1.42 weeks, and mean hemoglobin level was 9.74 ± 1.46 g/dL. Significant associations were observed between maternal anemia and low birth weight (p = 0.03), along with factors such as low socioeconomic status, lack of education, unbooked status, and history of preterm birth.
Conclusion: Maternal anemia remains highly prevalent and is significantly associated with low birth weight and several modifiable sociodemographic factors, emphasizing the importance of early antenatal care and nutritional interventions.
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