Anaemia among pregnant women attending MCH units in Alexandria: an epidemiological approach

ABSTRACT

Anemia among 500 pregnant women attending 6 MCH centers in Alexandria during the period form April through June 1986 was investigated with the aim of assessing its prevalence among pregnant women and studying some of the factors related to its occurrence. The results showed a prevalence of anemia of 42%, which was mostly iron deficiency [40.8%]. Social, biological and reproductive determinants that increase the risk to be anemic among pregnant women were illiteracy, multigravidity, especially those of, 4 gravidae and over, previous history of abortion and a short interval [below 2 years] between the termination of the last pregnancy and the present one