PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA IN WOMEN IN BUNDHELKHAND REGION, INDIA: ITS MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES

Objective: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of maternal anemia among pregnant women in the Bundelkhand region, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and to assess its impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Materials and Methods: A hospital record-based study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare center after obtaining the necessary ethical clearances and institutional permissions. Data were collected from hospital records and analyzed using SPSS Trial Version 22.

Results: A total of 300 pregnant women were included in the study, of whom 177 (59.0%) were diagnosed with anemia. Among the 300 deliveries, 89 newborns had low birth weight (LBW), with 36 (35.2%) of these cases occurring in mothers with moderate anemia. The prevalence of stillbirth/intrauterine death (IUD) was 20 (6.6%), with a significantly higher incidence (50%) observed among mothers with severe anemia.

Conclusion: The prevalence of maternal anemia in this study was 59.0%, highlighting its continued significance as a major public health concern. Low maternal hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes like obstructed labor, puerperal sepsis, and neonatal outcomes, including LBW and stillbirth/IUD and, low APGAR scores,NICU admissions, and IUGR. These findings emphasize the urgent need for effective anemia prevention and management strategies during pregnancy to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.