Awareness about Signs of Anaemia Complicating Pregnancy

Abstract

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common form of anaemia and the most common nutritional disorder in India. Commonest anaemia during pregnancy is iron deficiency and it can be dual, both iron and folic acid deficiency. Women with mild anaemia often tend to be asymptomatic and anaemia is detected only on screening. Anaemia is found to be a direct contributor of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) which is the leading cause (20%) of maternal deaths. We wanted to assess the awareness about signs of anaemia complicating pregnancy, and its complications. METHODS This is a prospective cross-sectional study done among the pregnant women attending obstetrics and gynaecology department, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire-based interview after informed consent and ethical clearance and was then analysed. RESULTS Hundred pregnant women were recruited for the study. Fifty percent (50%) had satisfactory knowledge, forty six percent (46%) had poor knowledge, and four percent (4%) had good knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy. Out of forty six percent (46%) of the antenatal women who had poor knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy, thirty one percent (31%) belonged to lower socioeconomic class and the remaining fifteen percent (15%) belonged to middle class. Fifty percent (50%) of the antenatal women who had satisfactory knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy belonged to the middle class. Four percent (4%) of antenatal women who had good Knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy belonged to upper socioeconomic class. Out of forty six percent (46%) of the antenatal women who had poor knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy, ten percent (10%) had no formal education,eighteen percent(18%) had completed their primary school education and the remaining eighteen percent (18 %) had completed their secondary school education. Out of fifty percent(50%) of the antenatal women who had satisfactory knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy, twenty seven percent (27%) had completed their secondary school education and the remaining twenty three percent (23%) were degree holders.The remaining four percent (4%) of the antenatal women who had good knowledge about anaemia during pregnancy were degree holders. CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women were not aware about the grave complications of anaemia during pregnancy. Awareness must be re-emphasized through media-radio, television so that more knowledge to the general population regarding the complications of anaemia during pregnancy can be imparted and the need for regular follow up during pregnancy for decreasing the maternal mortality can be emphasized.