Pattern of Anemia among Primigravida Attending the Antenatal Clinic of Tertiary Care Hospital

Objectives: To determine the frequency of anemia, severity, its various types and determinants among primigravida attending the antenatal clinic of tertiary care hospital. Methods: It was cross sectional study conducted in Antenatal clinic, Gynecology and Obstetrics department, Services Hospital Lahore for duration of one year from 01-07-2017 to 30-06-2018. All primigravida presenting to antenatal clinic for their first antenatal visit uptil 24 weeks were included in study. Blood samples of the patients was sent in complete blood count vial to pathology laboratory. Patients having hemoglobin level less than 11 gm/dl were labelled as anemia and typing was done according to RBC indices, S. Ferritin and hemoglobin electrophoresis if required. Characteristics of patients anemic and nonanemic patients were compared. Severity of anemia was also noted. Results: Total 210 primigravida were screened and 53 (25.2%) patients were found to be anemic. Iron deficiency anemia was noted in 40(75.5%) patients, beta thalassemia in 9(17.0%) patients and megaloblastic anemia in 4(1.9%) patients. Mild anemia was seen in 28(52.8%), moderate anemia in 19(35.8%) and severe anemia in 6(11.3%) primigravida. The mean age of the patients was 25.68±4.68 years in patients without anemia and 26.47±4.76 in patients with anemia. The mean gestational age at booking was 16.15±4.87 weeks for non anemic patients and 22.23±3.67 weeks for anemic patients (p<0.05). Mean hemoglobin in anemic patients was 9.2+0.8 mg/dl while 11.1+0.6mg/dl in nonanemic patients (p<0.05). Illiteracy, low socio- economic status and no intake of iron supplementation had significant association with anemia (p<0.05). Conclusion: The frequency of anemia among primigravida attending the antenatal clinic of tertiary care hospital was 25.2% and the most common type was iron deficiency anemia. Poverty, illiteracy, late booking and no iron and folic acid intake were significant determinants of anemia. Key Words: Anemia, Primigravidas, Iron deficiency anemia How to Cite: Bushra N, Wasim A.Z, Feroze J, Masood M. Pattern of anemia among primigravida attending the antenatal clinic of tertiary care hospital. Esculapio.2020;16(04):92-96.