Association of Gestational Iron-deficiency Anemia with Antenatal Depression among Pregnant Women: A Case-control Study from Tertiary Care Hospitals, Lahore

Objective: The goal of this study is to investigate the potential association between gestational anemia and antenatal depression in pregnant women.

Methods: It is a case-control study consisting of 684 pregnant women under 18 years recruited in different tertiary care hospitals, in Lahore, between June 2023 and December 2023. Utilizing an online questionnaire, data collection encompassed demographics, dietary habits, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Pregnant women with antenatal hemoglobin (Hb) levels above and below 11.0 g/dL were categorized as a nonanemic and anemic group. Statistical analysis involved Chi-square tests to explore the relationships between gestational parameters and maternal factors.

Findings: The depression scores of anemic and nonanemic pregnant women compare two groups of pregnant women based on their Hb levels: those with Hb <110 g/l during pregnancy (anemic) and those with Hb ≥110 g/l (nonanemic). The anemic group had higher depression scores than the nonanemic group, both for those with EPDS <12 points and those with EPDS ≥12 points. However, P = 0.077 indicates that this difference was not statistically significant at a typical alpha level of 0.05.

Conclusion: No significant association was found between gestational anemia and antenatal depression in pregnant women. These findings prompt further research to unravel the intricacies of the association between gestational anemia and depression. The outcomes thus urge the researchers and health-care professionals to consider the diverse factors that may contribute to mental health outcomes during pregnancy and refine strategies for maternal care.