1Assistant professor, Community medicine, AIMS, B.G. Nagara, Nagamangala, Mandya, Karnataka, India
2Lecturer in statistics, community medicine, AIMS, B G Nagara, Nagamangala, Mandya, Karnataka, India
3Associate professor, Community Medicine, SCMCH, Channapatna, RamaNagara, Karnataka, India
Background: Anaemia during pregnancy is a major public health problem in developing countries and contributes significantly to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anaemia affects nearly 40% of pregnant women globally, with a higher burden in low- and middle-income countries such as India. Nutritional deficiencies, infections, and socio-demographic factors play a major role in the development of anaemia during pregnancy.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and identify the associated risk factors in a community setting.
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 pregnant women residing in the study area. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Haemoglobin levels were measured using standard laboratory methods, and anaemia was classified according to WHO criteria. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, dietary habits, and antenatal care were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate prevalence, and Chi-square test was applied to assess associations between anaemia and risk factors. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 56.7%. Mild anaemia was observed in 30%, moderate anaemia in 22%, and severe anaemia in 4.7% of participants. Significant associations were found between anaemia and factors such as low socioeconomic status, inadequate iron supplementation, multiparity, short birth spacing, and poor dietary intake (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Anaemia remains highly prevalent among pregnant women in the community. Strengthening antenatal care services, improving nutritional awareness, and ensuring compliance with iron-folic acid supplementation are essential to reduce the burden of anaemia during pregnancy.
Keywords: Anaemia, Pregnancy, Maternal Health, Nutritional Deficiency, Community Study.
How to cite this article: Neralakatte SA, H VN and Amulya A, Prevalence of Anaemia Among Pregnant Women and Its Associated Factors: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(5s): 845-849. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.5s.101
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None