Feto-maternal outcome among Anemic Women attending labor

Abstract

The aim of this case-control comparative study is to analyze the risk of anemia during pregnancy on the health of both mother and fetus. Seven hundred-fifty pregnant women admitted in labor were included who were divided into three hundred fifty (350) as anemic group and four hundred (400) as non-anemic group. Among the anemic group 57.1% had iron deficiency type and 54% of anemic group had mild anemia. Low social class and lack of attendance to A.N.C. clinics were the major predisposing factors in anemic group as 48.6% were of low social class and 37.7% were not attended antenatal care clinics. This study revealed that anemic group was more risky to have pre-eclampsia 15.7%, post-partum hemorrhage 16.8% and ante-partum hemorrhage 11.7%. Anemic women had higher cesarean section rate 40.9% mainly due to fetal distress 26.7% and ante-partum hemorrhage 23.8%. Intra-uterine death 4.8%, preterm delivery 15.4% and intra-uterine growth retardation 2% were the frequent fetal complications among anemic group with highly significant difference. Newborn of anemic women tend to have lower birth weight, low Apgar score with more admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 29.1%. In conclusion anemia was still the common medical health problem among pregnant women in Basra society which carry high risk to both maternal and fetal health.