Anemia in pregnancy

Abstract

Anemic women have an increased perinatal mortality and puerperal morbidity (Scott, 1961). Post partum hemorrhage is tolerated badly and if inadequately treated may result in maternal mortality or chronic ill health and reduced ability to cope with infant care and domestic responsibilities. It is the purpose of this paper to assess the extent of the problem in Malta and to discuss some of the causes. A survey of anemia in pregnancy in Malta revealed that 33 per cent of untreated patients first attending the antenatal clinic had a hemoglobin concentration of less than 12 g. per 100 ml. Patients of very high parity had a significantly lower hemoglobin and packed cell volume. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration remained very constant in the age and parity groups studied. A review of iron balance and blood volume studies in pregnancy suggests that iron deficiency is likely to be an important cause of the high incidence of anemia. Packed cell volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration are of value in assessing the extent of hypervolemia in pregnancy.