Background: Anemia is a public health problem in both developed and developing countries. It affects 1.62 billion people globally, which corresponds to 24.8% of the world population. Global prevalence of anemia in pregnant women is 41.8%, approximately 50% of cases of anemia are considered to be due to iron deficiency.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its complications among term pregnant women at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on hospital records of 1552 pregnant women at Ain Shams University Maternity hospital for period from January 2018 to July 2018 and files with incomplete registration were excluded as required data weren't sufficiently registered.
Results: Hb was 11.3±1.4 gm/dL, 59.1% of patients were normal and 40.9% had anemia in form of Mild in 28.3%, Moderate in 11.3% and Severe in 1.3%. -4.0% of the included women had complications in form of PPH, 0.3% in ICU and 2.0% had blood transfusion 48.4% of them had 1-2 units, 38.7% of them had 3-4 units and 12.9% of them had >4 units. As regard neonatal outcome we found that mean gestational age was 38.8±0.9 weeks, birth weight 3.13±0.56 kg, Apgar 1st was 8.4±1.2, 5th was 8.5±1.1. As regard neonatal complications 9.35 of them had LBW, 9.2% had NICU, 3.7% had APGAR1<7,death rate was in 2.6% of them and was either neonatal death in 2.2%, Inrapartum fetal death in 0.1% and Intrauterine fetal death in 0.3%. Parity was significantly different among anemia grades; were highest in severe followed by moderate then mild and lowest in normal. PPH, ICU and transfusion were significantly different among anemia grades; were highest in severe followed by moderate then mild and lowest in normal. Birth weight was significantly different among anemia grades; were lowest in severe followed by moderate then mild and highest in normal. Low APGAR, NICU and death were significantly different among anemia grades; were highest in severe followed by moderate then mild and lowest in normal. There were significant weak positive correlations between hemoglobin and birth weight and APGAR scores.
Conclusion: Anemia in pregnancy continues to be a health problem in Egypt, and economic factors may contribute to the situation as its prevalence was 40.9% among our cases which were low socioeconomic populations.