MATERNAL ANAEMIA AS A RISK FACTOR FOR ADVERSE NEONATAL OUTCOME

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy anaemia is a serious health concern and a leading cause of poor
feto-maternal outcomes, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Anemia can cause infections,
premature rupture of membranes, foetal growth limitation, foetal hypoxia, and other health
problems for both the mother and the baby, preterm delivery, low birth weight, increased need
for admission to NICU, fetal & neonatal death.OBJECTIVE: To study the association of
maternal anemia with adverse neonatal outcome. DETAILS OF THE Research: This was a
descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Women and Children Hospital,
Abbottabad, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. STUDY DURATION: 1
st
December 2019 to 10th December 2020. Materials & Methods: A total of 170- women
with pregnancy of gestational age >37 weeks, 19 to 40 years of age were included in the
study. Patients with diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, CLD, and CRF were not included in
the study. Hemoglobin was tested in blood samples taken in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid (EDTA) tubes. The degree of maternal anaemia was det ermined, as well as the
neonatal prognosis. RESULTS: Maternal anaemia was linked to a greater risk of low
birth weight (45.4%), early newborn mortality (13.6%), and increased admission to the
neonatal intensive care unit (36.3%) in patients with severe ana emia. The link between
mild or moderate anaemia and infant mortality was not significant. SUMMARY:
Maternal anaemia raises the risk of low birth weight, premature birth, and perinatal death.
Improving maternal nutrition and iron supplements during pregnancy can help to reduce
these negative effects.