Abstract:
This study was done during the period from November 2002 to
April 2004 in Mukalla hospital – Hadramout-Yemen .
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron
deficiency anaemia in a population of pregnant women .
A total of 215 pregnant women and 40 healthy non-pregnant
women as a control, ages ranging from 16 years to 44 years (mean
age 26.3 year), were studied. Blood samples were taken randomly
from each pregnant women presenting mother-child-health center
(M.C.H) during different gestational age for follow up. Pregnant
women under iron treatment or supplementation were excluded from
this study. Haematological parameters were determined by coulter
counter. For Pregnant with haemoglobin below normal (< 11 g/dl) and
control group with haemoglobin < 12 g/dl, biochemical iron profile
parameters were done to detect iron deficiency anaemia.
Results showed that 82% of studied pregnant women were
anaemic with mild to moderate degree of severity. Of these anaemic
pregnant women, 77% had iron deficency anaemia, which was more
common and severe during third trimester(89%). This high prevalence
may be due to inadequate iron intake befor and during pregnancy.
37.5% of the control group were anaemic, of these 73% had
iron deficiency anaemia.
As a conclusion, anaemia in general and iron deficiency anaemia
in particular showed a high prevalence rate among pregnant women
living in Mukalla-Yemen.. Therefore, this study suggests that M.C.H
services at the primary health care are not adequate and should be
improved to be capable of dealing with anaemic pregnant women.
