Study of Type and Severity of Anemia in Antinatal Cases in a Mountanous Hilly Region of J&K India.

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia in expectant women is a serious worldwide public health problem with adverse pregnancy outcomes. It remains one of the India's major public health problem irrespective of the fact that it is preventable and easily treatable. The present study was being done to assess the severity and type of anemia in a hilly mountaneous region of J&K India in GMC Doda. Material and methods: The present study was conducted among the pregnant women coming for antenatal checkup in rural hilly mountanous region of J&K in GMC Doda.In this study of two months duration, A total of 700 pregnant women were included in our study in the reproductive age group from 18 to 45 years. Hb estimation was done with Sahli , s method. Anemia in this study was defined by using World Health Organisation and was classified into mild anemia (Hb 10-10.9g/dl), moderate anemia (Hb 7-9.9g.dl) and severe anemia (Hb <7g/dl). A peripheral smear was also made to study the type of anemia as normocytic normochromic, microcytic hypochromic, macrocytic or dimorphic anemia. Results: Out of total 700 cases, 574(82%) cases were found to be anemic. The hemoglobin concentration ranged from 5-12.5gm/dl with a median of 8.7gm/dl. Majority of the pregnant females were less than 30 years of age. Out of the anemic cases, 60% were moderately anemic followed by 28% mildly anemic cases and 12% severely anemic cases. Morphological subtyping showed that majority of the cases had microcytic hypochromic anemia (43%). Normocytic normochromic anemia was 25% followed by dimorphic anemia in 27% and 5% cases showed macrocytic anemia Conclusion: The high prevalence of anemia in our study hints towards more strict measures in investigating and screening of pregnant women. Screening and treatment of parasitic infections should also be encouraged. Health education talks on nutrition needs, education of mothers should also be carried out. Therefore to reduce the deleterious effect on health of mother and child early intervention by clinicians is also needed