Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (Jan 2019)

High prevalence of anemia among postnatal mothers in Urban Puducherry: A community-based study

  • Ramya Selvaraj,
  • Jayalakshmy Ramakrishnan,
  • Swaroop Kumar Sahu,
  • Sitanshu Sekhar Kar,
  • Karthik Balajee Laksham,
  • K C Premarajan,
  • Gautam Roy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_386_19
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 8
pp. 2703 – 2707

Abstract

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Background: Anemia is a common problem across all life stages and ages with a higher burden among women. The postnatal period is an often-neglected period for the provision of effective care to the mothers. Anemia burden is also high during this period, which leads to many morbidities and poor quality of life. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was done in the field practice area of two Urban Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Puducherry between March 2015 and February 2016. A total of 227 postnatal mothers were selected by simple random sampling from the list of mothers delivered from the field practice area. House visit was done within 4 weeks of completion of their postnatal period. Socio-demographic details and third-trimester hemoglobin levels were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Hemoglobin level during post-partum was measured using Sahli's Hemoglobinometer. Paired t-test is done to assess the difference in hemoglobin antepartum and post-partum. Multiple Logistic Regression is done to identify factors associated with postpartum anemia. Results: The mean (SD) hemoglobin during postpartum was 10.95 (1.1) gm% ranging from 7.4 gm% to 13.8 gm%. The prevalence of anemia among postnatal mothers is 76.2% (n = 173, 95% CI: 70.4%-81.4%). Around 26% (59) had mild anemia, 49.8% (113) had moderate anemia and 0.4% (1) had severe anemia. One-fourth of the mothers who had a normal hemoglobin level in their third trimester had developed anemia in the postnatal period. There was a significant difference in mean hemoglobin during postpartum and that of third trimester (10.95 vs 10.69 gm%, t = 3.4, df 226, P = 0.001). Birth order of two or more is significantly associated with postpartum anemia (aOR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.07-4.39). Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia among postnatal mothers is high. Routine hemoglobin estimation, advice on consumption of iron-rich foods and Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation have to be provided to postnatal mothers to improve this situation.

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