The prevalence of anemia in pregnant Nepali women - a study in Kathmandu

Background. Anemia in pregnancy is associated with maternal and perinatal m orbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization has suggested that wh ere up-to-date information is not available, prevalence studies should be u ndertaken. Methods. The distribution of hematocrit in 2280 pregnant women attending Pa tan Hospital, Kathmandu, for their first antenatal visit in a twelve month period, 1994-95, was studied. Anemia was defined as a hematocrit value less than or equal to 34% in the first and third trimesters, or less than or eq ual to 33% in the second trimester. Severe anemia was defined as a hematocr it value less than or equal to 24%. The prevalence of anemia and severe ane mia, and associations with socio-demographic (age, ethnic group, living are a, maternal and paternal education and occupation) and biological (height, body mass index, parity, gestation) variables were investigated. Results. The hematocrit values ranged from 11-49% with a mean value of 32.6 % (s.d. 3.9). The prevalences of anemia and severe anemia were 62.2% and 3. 6%, respectively. High prevalence of anemia was observed among teenagers, f armers, women of short height, the ethnic groups Lama/Sherpa/Tamang, and wo men married to industrial workers or illiterate men. Also, the risk of anem ia increased with gestation. Work within the service professions, higher ed ucation and high body mass index, were associated with a lower risk of anem ia. Conclusions. A high prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Kathmandu was observed. The hematocrit values were related to socio-demographic and b iological factors. In order to plan focused and effective intervention, stu dies on the etiology of anemia among pregnant women in rural and urban area s of Nepal need to be carried out.