A Cross Sectional Study to Assess the Status of Hemoglobin and Other Blood Indices among Pregnant Women Attending Tertiary Care Hospital of Vadodara

Introduction: A number of adaptations happen in the anatomy, physiology and metabolic processes within the mother which aids in successful progression of the pregnancy. The different blood indices such as haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count; total WBC count etc. can be measured to evaluate haematological status in a pregnant woman. The hematological profile of the pregnant women has an impact on both pregnancy and its outcome. Anaemia in pregnancy can be leads to morbidity and mortality in mother and fetus. The current study was designed to determine the variation in status of hemoglobin and other blood indices in anemic and non-anemic pregnant women.

Aims ans Objectives: 1. To study the hematological and other blood indices among pregnant women, 2. To assess the degree of anemia in pregnant women, 3. To compare the Various hematological parameters between anemic and non -anemic pregnant women.

Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional comparative descriptive survey design and quantitative approach was adopted to achieve the goal of the study. The study was conducted at the tertiary care hospital of Vadodara, Gujarat. Total 300 pregnant women were recruited and socio demographic information was collected. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), total leucocyte count (TLC), differential leucocyte count (DLC), and platelet count, blood indices of the recruited samples were studied.Mean and SD of Haematological parameters were calculated and unpaired t-test was used to compare the pregnant anaemic women data with non-anaemic pregnant women.

Results: Out of 300, 204 pregnant women were found anemic and most of the pregnant women 84% belonged to rural area. In accordance with severity of anemia, Moderate degree of anemia was found to be highest (41%) in anemic pregnant women. Comparison of non - anaemic pregnant women with anaemic pregnant women shows significant changes in haematological parameters (p <0.05).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is significant changes in hematological parameters in each trimesters of pregnancy as well compare to non-anemic to anemic pregnant women. Most of the hematological changes occur in order to physiological adaptation of pregnancy but abnormal status of Haemoglobin and other blood indices cause adverse outcome of the pregnancy.