Anemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Gorgan, Iran: a comparative study

To compare anemia status between pregnant and non-pregnant women living in Gorgan villages. Material &

This was a descriptive study. For the study purposes, 4 I 5 women aged between 18 and 35 from 20 Gorgan villages were entered into the study using cluster and simple sampling method. In all, 48 pregnant and 361 non-pregnant women were compared. After sampling, hematological examinations were carried out by Coulter Counter. Serum iron and TIBC were determined using spectrometry. In pregnant women serum iron, Hgb and T.S. less than 30 micg/dl, I lg/di and 16% respectively, but in non-pregnant women they were considered as anemic if the serum iron, Hgb and T.S. were less than 40 micg/dl, 12g/dl and 16% was regarded as anemia respectively.

In pregnant women, the prevalence of anemia on the basis of serum, T.S. and Hgb was 24.2%, 42.4% and 18.2% respectively, but in non- pregnant women this was 21.2%, 34.55% and 20.98% respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the number of last deliveries and serum T.S (P<0.03). The mean of MCV, CMH and MCHC during 2nd stages of pregnancy was less than 1st and 3rd or non- pregnant women.

The results showed although there was no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant women, anemia is one of the nutritional problems in women in rural Gorgan, so supplementary iron has to be administered during pregnancy period.