ROLE OF RBC INDICES IN CATEGORIZATION OF ANEMIA IN ANTENATAL WOMEN

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Anemia is one of the most common hematological abnormality diagnosed during pregnancy. In India, anemia is the second most common cause of maternal death. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of anemia in antenatal women and to analyse the risk factors for anemia in pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 500 pregnant women coming to a tertiary teaching hospital in western Uttar Pradesh, for their rst antenatal visit, over a period of one year. Blood samples were taken in plain vacutainers for serum ferritin estimation and in EDTAvacutainers for red cell indices and peripheral smear examination. RESULTS: Prevalence of anemia was found to be 55.8%. Majority of the women were moderately anemic, normocytic normochromic anemia being the commonest type. Prevalence of anemia was high in second and fourth or more gravida and increased with increase in age of gestation. Serum ferritin levels were found to be decreased in all the trimesters. Prevalence of anemia was more in vegetarian women and in those who were not taking iron and folic acid supplements. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of antenatal anemia is high in India as compared to developed countries. Diet, intake of iron and folic acid, gravidity and age of gestation have signicant role in causation of anemia.