Anemia in Pregnancy - Is it all Iron Deficiency?

Anemia in pregnancy is defined as Hb < 11 g/ dl. It is a huge burden causing death in around 80%. There is scanty literature available on prevalence of anaemia among pregnancy along with its determinants from Eastern India. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence and aetiology of anaemia among pregnant mothers in urban population of eastern India. This is an observational, cross-sectional study conducted amongst the antenatal mothers visiting Lady Dufferin Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India from - June 2010 to December 2021, for a duration of eleven years six months. Complete haemogram was performed after collecting 2cc EDTA blood sample. Other tests done include HPLC, serum ferritin, vitamin B 12, folate. 42349 antenatal mothers were enrolled in the study. 44.16% (18703/42349) of this study population had anaemia. Out of which, 1.5% had severe anaemia, 35.46% moderate and 63.02% had mild anaemia. The age range of the study population was 15 years 3 months to 46 years 1 month, with a mean age of 30 years 7 months. Of the entire cohort 9.5% ( 4023 / 42349 ) were detected to be thalassaemia carriers. Serum Ferritin level was less than 30ug/dl in 52.3% ( 9781/ 18703 ) of anaemic mothers. This study though documented a lower prevalence in urban mothers, the prevalence was higher compared to the global standards. The prevalence of anemia among teenage mothers was higher (59.78%) and anemia was more in primigravida (63.02% ), which indicates higher prevalence among the adolescents and young women. Anemia in most of the mother was mild ( 63.02% ), however some national as well as international studies reported moderate anemia as the most prevalent one. A significant percentage of pregnant women are anemic, which is significant in teenage pregnancies and primigravida. More importance to anemia control programs and mass awareness is needed to reduce the significant burden of anaemia.