Anemia before Delivery in Pregnant Women at 3 Central Hospitals, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine anemia before delivery
in pregnant women delivery at 3 hospitals including Mahosoth Hospital, Mother and child
Hospital and Sethathirath Hospital, Vientiane capital, Lao PDR. A total of 360 pregnant
women with gestational 37-42 weeks and newborns took part in the study. Data were
collected by interviewing including demographic data, pregnant history, nutrition and
health status and food consumption behavior. Hemoglobin concentration were retrieved
from laboratory records of pregnant women. New born information were recorded including
birth weight, length, head circumference and Apgar score. Association between anemia
before delivery in pregnant women with newborn’s health status including birth weight,
length, head circumferences and Apgar scores were analyzed using Chi-square test and presented as
crude Odds ratio and 95% CI of OR. Statistical significance was set at p-value<0.05.
The result revealed that of the 360 pregnant women, 31.4% had anemia. Mild
and moderate anemia were found 20.2% and 11.2%, respectively. For newborns, 5.3% of
360 newborn had low birth weight (<2500 g), 14.2% had short length (<48 cm), 50.8% had
short head circumference (<33 cm) and 2.5% had low Apgar score (≤7). Anemia before
delivery in pregnant women was not associated with birth weight, length and Apgar score.
However, anemia before delivery in pregnant women was associated with newborn head
circumference (p-value=0.0053). Newborn delivered from non-anemia pregnant women
before delivery was 1.96 times (95% CI=1.21-3.18) at risk to have short head circumference
compared with newborn delivered from anemic pregnant women before delivery.
In conclusion, prevalence of anemia before delivery in pregnant women is relatively
high. The mother and child health organization and related organization should campaign
for early ANC attending and strengthen follow-up ANC services for reducing and preventing
anemia before delivery in pregnant women.