FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ANEMIA IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN IRAQI FEMALES SAMPLE

Abstract

The aim of this study: to determine the different causes of anemia among anemic women of reproductive age and to define associations between severity of anemia with different patient characteristics. Materials and methods: This is a community based cross-sectional study that was conducted between October and December 2020 among a sample of anemic women at reproductive age between (14-49 years), who attended the private clinic in Baghdad city. The sample consisted of 120 participants (100 non-pregnant women and 20 pregnant women). Socio-demographic characteristic data were collected including occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, family history of anemia, history of Pica, and number of pregnancies. Questions related to the causes of anemia: Dietary habits, menstrual cycle duration and profusion, current pregnancy, Gastrointestinal blood loss (any form), any chronic illness (like connective tissue disease , inflammatory bowel diseases, hypothyroidism ,chronic infection) and auto-immune hemolytic disease. Baseline hematological parameter were included, hemoglobin level, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), Serum ferritin and ESR. Results: A total of 120 women, the mean hemoglobin level was 9.43 g/dL. Iron deficiency anemia was the commonest type of anemia in 67.20% followed by inherited hemolytic anemia in 20%; auto-immune hemolytic anemia found in 5.6%, while megaloblastic anemia and anemia of chronic diseases forming 5.6% and 4% respectively. There is a significant association between severity of iron deficiency anemia and different age groups in addition to the amount of weekly consumption of red meat. Conclusions: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia found in this sample followed by inherited cause of anemia. Many individual and socioeconomic factors were associated with the development of anemia in women of reproductive age. Giving special attention and important diagnosis of anemia for those groups of women especially during reproductive age who had a higher prevalence of anemia.