A Preliminary Study on Parenteral Intravenous Iron Sucrose (IVIS) Therapy in Managing Anaemia among Pregnant Women in Primary Care Setting of Rural Haryana

Background: Intravenous iron sucrose (IVIS) therapy is a newly introduced service component for combating moderate anaemia in pregnant women by the Haryana state as a public health measure from the year 2014. Aim: The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of IVIS therapy on pregnant females having anaemia who were receiving this therapy in a primary care setting. Method: This prospective study was conducted at a randomly selected rural Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the Nuh district. 138 moderately anaemic females were given the standard form of IVIS therapy. The study subjects were requested to repeat haemoglobin levels after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of receipt of the last dose of therapy. Results: Of the total 154 anaemic pregnant women, 138 (89.6%) were diagnosed to have moderate anaemia. The number of study subjects with moderate anaemia reduced from 138 to 54, (54.54% reduction) when haemoglobin level was measured at the end of 4 weeks (endline). The mean rise in haemoglobin level among moderately anaemic pregnant females was 1.62 g/dL. At the end of 4 weeks (endline), 73.75% of the study subjects achieved normal levels of haemoglobin (from a total of 80 moderately anaemic women measurement). Conclusion: The mean rise in haemoglobin level in moderately anaemic pregnant females was 1.62 g/dL among participants who received IVIS therapy in a primary care setting in an underprivileged area in Haryana state. The women having severe anaemia achieved a better rise in Hb levels.