Abstract

EFFECT OF ANAEMIA DURING THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY ON GESTATIONAL SIZE AND BIRTH WEIGHT OF BABIES IN RURAL LUCKNOW, INDIA

Krishna Kumar Sahu, M.Z Idris, Monika Agarwal, S.K Singh, Wahid Ali,Pratap Shankar#, R.K. Dixit

ABSTRACT

Background: The prevalence of anaemia amongst pregnant mothers in India is about 58.0%. It is one of the commonest risk factor for low birth weight babies, though the extent to which it affects the gestational age is not known. In Indian context relevant association between the maternal anaemia and neonatal outcome is not very much clear. Objectives of the current study were to find out the prevalence of anaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy and investigate the effect of anaemia on gestational size and birth weight of babies. Material and methods: The present descriptive study was conducted from October 2011 to May 2012 at Sarojni Nagar PHC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 323 pregnant women. Haemoglobin investigation was done at 28-30 weeks of the pregnancy. WHO criterion was used for classification of anaemia. Out of these 323 pregnant women, 291 could be followed upto delivery and amongst these 287 pregnant women delivered a live baby. Babies were weighed immediately after delivery. Result: In present study, the prevalence of anaemia during third trimester of pregnancy was 72.4 percent. Moderate and severe degree of anaemia was present in about 16.1 percent pregnant women. Prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW) among newborn babies was 11.8 percent and 28.6 percent respectively. Mothers who had severe degree of anaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy were delivered 62.5 percent SGA babies. While in non anaemic pregnant women prevalence of SGA was 3.6 percent. In severe anaemic pregnant women LBW was 75.0 percent. Conclusion: Anaemia during third trimester of pregnancy was positively correlated with birth weight and gestational size of the newborn.

Keywords: anaemia, third trimester of pregnancy, low birth weight, gestation size, rural,