Anaemia of pregnancy in rural areas: recognition by simple laboratory methods

ABSTRACT

Anaemia of pregnancy directly or indirectly contributes to a significant proportion of maternal deaths. According to a recent report of WHO, the prevalence of nutritional anaemia in women indicates that about half of the pregnant women in the world suffer from the nutritional anaemia. In developed countries, 56% women are anaemic.lt was planned to study the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in rural areas and establish inexpensivee techniques which can be used in these areas. The study observed that the Haemoglobin content. PCV, red blood cell count, erythrocyte indices [MCV, MCH, MCHC] were very low in 100 pregnant female subjects, showed a moderate to severe anaemia whereas most cases of female control subjects also showed a moderate anaemia. Due to poverty, lack of education, long distances from proper hospitals it is suggested that the laboratory facilities should be provided to rural areas with easy techniques and prevent both child and mother from complications of anaemia