Association of Dietary Pattern with Haemoglobin Level among Registered Antenatal Women in Rural Maharashtra

Sophie Simon; Alokkumar Singh; Pavan Sable

Volume : VII, Issue : VI, June - 2018

Association of Dietary Pattern with Haemoglobin Level among Registered Antenatal Women in Rural Maharashtra

Sophie Simon, Alokkumar Singh, Pavan Sable

Abstract :

Aim – To study the association of dietary pattern with haemoglobin level among registered antenatal women in rural Maharashtra. Study design – cross sectional observational study. Methodology – Pregnant women registered at 3 randomly selected sub–centres of a primary health centre in rural Maharashtra were included in the study (N = 63). Antenatal women with systemic diseases like diabetes, eclampsia and heart diseases were excluded from the study. Results – Most of them belonged to the age group of 20 – 25 years (53.9%). Most of them were primigravida (42.9%). 79.4% of the total pregnant women were non–vegetarians. Analysis of the haemoglobin status revealed that 65% of the total participants were anaemic (Hb level< 11 g%). However, the association between haemoglobin levels and dietary pattern was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion– Anaemia during pregnancy is common in developing countries and is associated with significant morbidity & mortality. Dietary pattern like vegetarian/non–vegetarian in combination with Iron and Folic Acid supplementation will significantly reduce the problem of Anaemia in pregnancy.