Background: — ANEMIA in pregnancy is an important health issue resulting in high maternal morbidity and mortality. Anemia affects almost two–thirds of pregnant women in developing countries and contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality and to low birthweight. Pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups to anemia. The purpose of the current study was to identify factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending tertiary care hospital.

Objective: — To determine the prevalence of anemia and the dietary and socioeconomic factors associated with anemia in pregnant women.

Methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted at Tertiary care hospital, Jharkhand from April 2018 to June 2018. It involved the collection of data on socio demographic and obstetric variables, medical interventions and malaria infection, consumption of iron containing foods and supplements using a structured questionnaire.  Hg level determination, were assessed following the standard procedures.

Result:  Out of 165 women ,15 (9.09%) were non–anemic and remaining 150(90.91%) were anemic. Out of 150 anemic women the prevalence of mild to moderate anemia (hemoglobin from 7.0 to 10.9 g/dL) in the cohort was 92%; of these, 50% had mild anemia (hemoglobin from 9.0 to 10.9 g/dL) and 42% had moderate anemia (hemoglobin from 7.0 to 8.9 g/dL).and 12(8%) were severely anemic (hemoglobin < 7.0 g/dL).

Conclusion: Lack of ANC, gestational age at first ANC, Malaria infection, fish/Meat intake and, visits were significantly associated with anemia. Addressing these factors can reduce the incidence of anemia in pregnancy. Socioeconomic determinants constitute most of the anemia cases and, hence, should be considered as major risk factors of anemia in women attending for delivery at term.