The effects of socio-economic factors on the prevalence of anemia with reference to different trimester of pregnancy and level of ferritin in pregnant women of District Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Anemia is a problem in which the level of hemoglobin decreases or the number of red blood cells reduces. There are many factors that are involved in causing anemia in women like nutritional deficiency, gastrointestinal bleeding (diarrhea). Multiple pregnancies or pregnancies having less than two years’ time period between them also result in causing anemia or reducing iron stores in blood. The current research was planned to find out the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women of District Lahore and to know how it is related to iron-rich food and the socioeconomic status of chosen patients. Method of data collection for the socioeconomic factors on the prevalence of anemia was done by taking interviews as well as questionnaire filled by pregnant women while for other analysis blood samples of 70 pregnant women of age group (25-40) years were collected and stored in EDTA tubes from four different hospitals of District Lahore, during different trimesters of pregnancy. The collected blood samples were taken and stored in already filled with EDTA tubes. All samples were then analyzed by using a CBC hematology auto analyzer. It is concluded from the current study that anemia was highly prevalent in District Lahore. It also indicated that the age of selected PW showed a significant effect on the severity of anemia because of nutritional deficiency with an increase in age. Income plays a central role in anemic women. Mostly anemic women were belonging to the middle class which affected the nutritional status of PW and they didn’t take iron and other nutrients-containing diets. The trimester of pregnancy had an impact on anemia because due to the growth of the fetus body needs Iron folate, vitamins, and other nutrients. The majority of anemic women were in their 2nd trimester because they did not get a proper diet. No pregnancies were also significant factors in PW. It can be due to the reason that with short birth spacing and an increase no in pregnancies and abortions the Hb and serum ferritin level decreases and leads to anemia. This study helped to estimate the prevalence and causes of anemia in expecting females.