Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy is a common nutritional disorder with adverse effects for the baby, such as premature birth and low birth weight, and the mother, such as cardiovascular symptoms and reduced physical and mental strength. Objective; To determine the frequency of iron deficiency anemia by serum ferritin levels at a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods; All the patients who meet inclusion criteria of this study were registered from Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Nishtar Hospital Multan. Proper permission was taken from Institutional Ethical Committee to conduct this study. Examination was done including general physical examination. Venous blood sample (3 ml) was taken and sent to the Pathology Laboratory of the Hospital for serum ferritin levels estimation to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results; Our study comprised of a total of 382 patients meeting inclusion criteria of our study. Mean gestational age of our study cases was 29.21 ± 7.16 weeks and 198 (51.8 %) had gestational age up to 30 weeks. Mean age of our study cases was 26.77 ± 4.29 years (with minimum age of our study cases was 20 years while maximum age was 36 years). Our study results have indicated that majority of our study cases i.e. 298 (78.0 %) were aged up to 30 years. Of these 382 study cases, 156 (40.8 %) belonged to rural areas and 226 (59.2 %) belonged to urban areas. Monthly family income up to Rs. 25000 was noted in 213 (55.8%) while more than Rs. 25000 was noted in 169 (44.2%). Of these 382 study cases, 241 (63.1%) were illiterate and 141 (36.9%) were literate. Mean duration of marriage was 5.17 ± 2.41 years and 199 (52.1%) had duration of marriage more than 5 years. Mean body mass index of our study cases was 25.82 ± 2.44 kg/m2 and obesity was present in 56 (14.7 %) of our study cases. Mean serum Ferritin level was 11.43 ± 3.98 mg/dl and iron deficiency anemia was noted in 213 (55.8%) of our study cases. Conclusion; Very high frequency of iron deficiency anemia was noted in our study among pregnant women. Iron Deficiency anemia was significantly associated with gestational age, age, residential status, low family income and duration of marriage. All the clinicians should screen these pregnant ladies for serum ferritin levels at the start of pregnancy and should counsel them for better awareness which will lead to proper management of iron deficiency anemia. Keywords; Iron Deficiency anemia, Pregnancy, Ferritin level. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-1
