STUDY ON PREVALANCE OF GESTATIONAL ANEMIA IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT PREGNANCY SPECIFIC ANXIETY IN HYDERABAD

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy requires an ample supply of nutrients to support fetal growth and development. This may result in a shortage of nutrients and an increase in worries during pregnancy. This excessive anxiety during pregnancy, commonly called as Pregnancy Specific Anxiety (PSA) usually interferes with the absorption of iron and causes gestational anemia.  Material & Methods: The current study recruited 187 participants visiting “The Department of Gynecology and obstetrics” at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad and divided them into two groups i.e. Pregnant women with PSA (n = 93) and Pregnant women without PSA (n = 94). Each study subject was asked detailed demographic questionnaires and tested for CBC to estimate hemoglobin levels. Results: Relationship of gestational anemia was evaluated between both study subjects. In PSA group 82% of the participants had lower levels of Hemoglobin while compared to the control group only 51% patients had anemia. Higher HAM-A scores in anemic subjects were computed against lower scores in their counterparts. This substantial difference and p-value <0.0001 is strongly suggestive of relationship of PSA with anemia. Conclusion: The present study significantly showed the direct relationship of anemia and PAS. Treatment of gestational anemia may not only require nutritional supplementation but may also need psychiatrics intervention.