A study of association between calories and hematocrit during pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives : To determine the association between calories and hematocrit (Hct.) during pregnancy

Methodology : This study was a descriptive study. Respondents were 71 postpartum mother who have no complication between pregnancy, labor and delivery. Data were collected by interview form include general characteristics health status during pregnancy and food and milk have had during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings. Data were not normality; thus, Spearman correlation were used to describe the relationship between calories and hematocrit.

Results : Age of respondents were between 15 and 41 years old. Two of Fifth were primigravidarum and gestational age at labor and delivery were 35-41 weeks. Majority of them received prenatal care at public hospital and visit Antenatal clinic at 2-16 times. Majority of them have vaginal delivery, male newborn, and baby weight at birth were 2,090 – 4,070 grams.

Hct at first visit were 24.6-43.0%. Hct. at 32 weeks of gestation were 28.4-40.6%. Highest decrease was 3.3% and highest increase was 5.5%. All of them have three meals a day with calories between 626-3,129 kilocalories/day. There were 2.8% have no milk during pregnancy. For respondents who have milk, they shown that they have milk between 1 to 5 boxes of milk. There were 91-1,000 kilocalories from milk. Among the group who have an increase of Hct. reported highest calories from milk and from meals. However, there were no statistically significant increase.

There was a positive statistically significant associated between calories from milk and change of Hct at p< 0.05.

Summary : Respondents from this study reported less calories than the suggestions. There was a significant relationship between calories from milks and hct.

keywords : Anemia, Hematocrit, Pregnancy