Gestational Anemia and its effects on neonatal outcome, in the population of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Anemia in pregnancy is a globally health-related issue, that affects both mothers and their newborn. Anemia during pregnancy across the world involves approximately 38% of the world population. To evaluate the effect of gestational anemia on perinatal outcome in the population. The aim of present study is to evaluate the effect of gestational anemia on perinatal outcome in the population of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative analysis was conducted among pregnant mothers who were listed to give birth at Liaquat University of medical and health sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad during the period of September 2018 to September 2019. The study population 400 were selected by convenient random sampling, and grouped into 2 on the basis of their Hb levels, with Hb < 11 gm% they were classified as anemic mothers, Hb ≥ 11 gm% were termed as non-anemic mothers, data was collected on the preformed questionnaire, and was analyzed on SPSS 21.

Results: The prevalence of anemia was 51.5% in in total population out of which, the incidence of normocytic normochromic anemia was highest 52.4 %microcytic hypochromic anemia was found in 19.4%, Overall, extremely low Apgar was found in 53 anemics, and 8 non. anemic mother's infants, LBW incidence was 47.5 %; in anemic mothers, and 15.4 % in non-anemic group, the term, small for gestational age infants were 14.5% in anemic mothers, and 3.6% in non-anemic mothers, there were 36 preterm births to anemic mothers and 10 in non-anemic mothers. The incidence of caesarian section is 53.3% in anemic mothers compared to 30.9% in non-anemic mothers.

Conclusions: Anemia in pregnancy significantly increases risks of low Apgar, LBW, term SGA, preterm birth, and an increase incidence of caesarian section.