Prevalence of Anaemia among Pregnant Women Attending 82 Division
Nigerian Army Hospitals, Enugu
The World Health Organization (WHO)1 defined Anaemia as
a haematologic condition and a sign of an underlying disorder characterized
by a reduction in the number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the concentration
of haemoglobin in the blood stream to a level below 10.5 g/dL.
Anaemia has also been defined as a reduction below normal
in the number of red corpuscles per cubic millimeter, the quantity
of haemoglobin and the volume of packed red cells per 100 ml of blood
as a result of impaired erythrocyte production or increased erythrocyte loss
which leads to impaired tissue perfusion.
The causes of Anaemia according to WHO includes the following;
pregnancy and child birth, repeated infections (malaria, hookworm),
poor feeding due to socioeconomic factors (poverty and low educational status)
and haematologic conditions such as impaired erythrocyte production
or increased erythrocyte loss.
Malaria in pregnancy is one of the predominant causes of anaemia in pregnancy.
Malaria accounted for more than 56% anaemic cases in pregnancy in Nigeria.
Forty per cent of all maternal peri-natal deaths are linked to anaemia.
Favourable pregnancy outcomes occur (30%-45%) less often in
anaemic mothers and their infants have less than one and a half of
normal iron reserves.
Anaemia is a common problem worldwide and poses a great challenge to both health workers and governments due to its attendant consequences on health and socioeconomic indices. These indices reflect the quality of life of citizens
of a nation.
Gynecol Obstet Res Open J. 2019; 6(1): 1-5. doi: 10.17140/GOROJ-6-148
