Prevalence of Anemia among Pregnant Women Attending OPD in a Tertiary Teaching Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major public health problem especially among the population of poor group in developing countries like Bangladesh. WHO report that 35% to 75% pregnant women in developing countries & 18% in developed countries are anemic. Methods: This prospective cross sectional observational study was designed to see the percentage of anemic pregnant patient attending OPD from March 2014 to February 2015 in Dhaka Medical College Hospital which is a tertiary teaching hospital. 2592 pregnant patients were attended in OPD, among them 1054 anemic patients were selected for the study. Data taken regarding age, parity, occupation, social status, education level, severity of anemia. Patients with history of threatened abortion, antepartum hemorrhage, and chronic blood loss were excluded. This study shows prevalence of anemia was 40.67%. All data were analyzed through SPSS 20. Results: In this study 1054 patients were selected. Age of the patients were in between 18-40 years, mean age 32.26 with SD 3.55. Among them 246 patients (23.34%) were primi and 808 patients (76.66%) were multigravida. Gestational age of 210 patients (19.92%) were < 28weeks and 844(80.08%) patients were above. 984 patients (93.36%) were housewife and 70(6.64%) were service holder. 282 patients (26.75%) were illiterate, 350 patients (33.20%) have completed primary level and 422(40.02%) were completed secondary and higher. From middle class family 566(53.70%), 374 patients (35.48%) were from poor class and rest from upper class114 (10.82%). Regarding severity of anemia 644 (61.10%) patients were moderately anemic, 398 (37.76%) had mild and 12(1.14%) had severe anemia. Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia during pregnancy is high. So, prophylaxis is necessary to reduce the burden.