FREQUENCY OF ANEMIA AMONG WOMEN PRESENTING WITH SHORT INTER-PREGNANCY INTERVAL AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Background; The time interval between pregnancies is considered to be an important and modifiable risk factor in terms of adverse perinatal outcomes. This study was done to  determine the frequency of anemia in pregnant women having short interpregnancy interval. Materials and methods; All the pregnant women with short interpregnancy interval were registered from Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan. Examination was done including general physical examination. Those with interpregnancy interval less than 6 months were included in study. Detailed history was taken regarding parity, duration of pregnancy. Duration of gestation was estimated according to patients last menstrual period. Three ml venous blood sample was drawn and sent to the pathology laboratory of Nishtar Hospital Multan for Hb levels analysis. Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results; Mean age of our study cases was noted to be 27.83 ± 4.95 years (with minimum age of our study cases was 21 years while maximum age was noted to be 38 years). Of these 90 study cases, 51 (56.7%) were from rural areas, 73 (81.1%) were normal weight 11(12.2%) were overweight and 6 (6.7%) were obese. Seventy eight (86.7%) were illiterate. Of these 90 study cases, 73 (81.1%) were having poor socioeconomic status, 11 (12.2%) were diabetic and 17 (18.9%) were hypertensive. Mean body mass index (BMI) of our study cases was noted to be 22.31 ± 2.07 Kg/m2. Mean gestational age of our study cases was noted to be 24.02 ± 8.31 weeks. Mean Hb level was noted to 10.67 ± 0.893 g/dl (with minimum Hb level was 9.6 g/dl while maximum Hb level was 12.5 g/dl). Mean interpregnancy interval was 4.23 ± 0.98 months (with minimum interpregnancy interval was 2.5 months while maximum interpregnancy interval was 6 months). Anemia was noted in 74 (82.2%) our study cases and only 23 (25.6%) of our study cases were taking iron supplements. Conclusion; Short interpregnancy interval less than 6 months is related with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Very high frequency of anemia was noted in our study cases having interpregnancy interval less than 6 months. Anemia was significantly associated with residential status, hypertension and iron supplementation. Birth spacing is an issue which women should have some control over. Educational interventions, including birth control, should be applied during prenatal visits and following delivery. Keywords ; Short interpregnancy Interval, anemia, hemoglobin. DOI : 10.7176/JMPB/67-05 Publication date :August 31st 2020