FEMALE LITERACY AND ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY: EXPLORING RELATIONSHIP

SYED RAZI HAIDER ZAIDI; ALIYA MUZAFFER; SAIRA FAYYAZ; AROOJ FATIMA NAQVI

doi:10.51642/ppmj.v27i3.118

DR. SYED RAZI HAIDER ZAIDI Postgraduate Medical Institute, Ameer ud Din Medical College, Lahore
DR. ALIYA MUZAFFER King Edward Medical University, Lahore
DR. SAIRA FAYYAZ King Edward Medical University, Lahore
DR. AROOJ FATIMA NAQVI King Edward Medical University, Lahore

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51642/ppmj.v27i3.118

Keywords: Anemia in Pregnancy, Female Literacy

Abstract

While anemia remains prevalent in all sexes yet pregnant females have higher prevalence which leads to complications and increases morbidity as well as mortality. The study aimed at exploring effect of female literacy in anemia in pregnancy so as to identify risk in illiterate women to enhance preventive strategies to high risk group as well as improving maternal education. Methodology: 60 anemic and 60 non anemic women from poor socioeconomic background were assessed for literacy. Results: Among the study participants mean age was 26 +/-1.7yrs in anemic and 32+/-3yrs in non-anemic. Mean income in study group was 12000rs +/-1000, in anemic women 42 had moderate anemia with mean Hb at 9.2g/dl +/- 0.6gg/dl while 18 had severe anemia with Hb at 6.1 g/dl +/-0.3g/dl, mean Hb in non-anemic women was 12.3g/dl +/-0.4gm/dl. In anemic group mean parity was at 3 while it was 2 in non anemic group. Out of 60 anemic women 14 were literate and 46 were not while among non anemic 33 were literate and 27 were not, p at 0.0004. Conclusion: Illiteracy is associated with anemia in pregnancy and require multi sectorial approach for educating and counseling females to reduces maternal and child morbidity and mortality.