Incidence and Causes of Anemia During Pregnancy in Antenatal Words in Khartoum University Hospitals

Background: Anemia is one of the most commonly encountered medical disorders and a significant public health problem in developing countries, particularly in pregnant women. It is a cause of serious concern, besides many other adverse effects on the mother and the fetus it contributes significantly high maternal mortality. The aims of the study were to estimate the incidence of anemia and to assess the causes of anemia during pregnancy among pregnant women in Khartoum university hospitals. Materials and Methods: Methods: This study was a descriptive hospital based study carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal wards at Soba University Hospital, and Saad Abo Alela Hospital during 15-31/December 2015, medical and obstetric data of the study population was collected using structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin was measured and Classified according to WHO anemia definition (hemoglobin [Hb]: <11 gm/dl classified as mild anemia (Hb:10?10.9 gm/dl), moderate anemia (Hb: 7.0?9 gm/dl), severe anemia (Hb: <7 gm/dl), respectively. Data was analyzed by using SPSS. Results: Incidence of anemia among 68 pregnant women was (33.82%) as follow: 13.24% had mild anemia, 17.65% had moderate anemia and 2.94% had severe anemia , respectively, the main cause of anemia according to result were bad life style and nutritional deficiency and infection with UTI and malaria. (47%) of these were multi gravida, 73.53% had positive pica, all study population had low and moderate socioeconomic status, 57.35% had less than two years spacing between births and 2.94% with worm infestation were associated with anemia. Conclusions: This study showed incidence of anemia, about one third of study population and majority of anemic women had moderate type of anemia. Bad life style, nutritional deficiency, infection with UTI, malaria, low and moderate socioeconomic status, and less than two years spacing period between births were common causes. Findings of this study call for urgent attention to provide solutions for direct and indirect causes of anemia. Routine testing of pregnant women for anemia and creating awareness campaigns on factors predisposing to anemia is recommended.