ABSTRACT

Objective:  To assess the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women attending a healthcare facility in Multan and identify its associated sociodemographic determinants.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Medicine, Bakhtawar Amin Trust Hospital Multan, Pakistan, from January 2021 to January 2022.
Methods: The study included 250 pregnant women selected by consecutive sampling. The sample size was calculated by keeping the estimated incidence of anemia at 40%, 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire, which included questions about demographic data (age, educational status, occupation, and eating habits) and the obstetric history of women. Complete blood picture of all the participants was recorded. Women with hemoglobin levels < 11 g/dL were considered anemic. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between factors.  P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of 250, 112 (45%) had anemia. Anemia had a higher prevalence in women aged 36 to 40 years. Regarding risk factors, women in the first trimester had a significantly higher risk of anemia than those in the second or third trimester (P <.0001). Moreover, women who had > 4 pregnancies had a higher risk of anemia (P<.0001). Nutrition counseling and healthy dietary habits significantly decreased the risk of anemia (P< .0001).
Conclusion: Anemia is a significant health concern in pregnant women, with the highest prevalence during the first trimester. Low socioeconomic background, poor dietary habits, and more than four pregnancies are significantly associated with the development of anemia during pregnancy. 

Keywords: Anemia, Pregnancy, Obstetrics, Women.

How to cite this: Hussain I, Rasheeq T, Gardezi A, Mukhtar S, Tahir M, Siddiqui HN. Prevalence of Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending a Healthcare Facility in Multan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Life and Science. 2025; 6(1): 102-108. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.533