Effectiveness of Management System of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy: A Study in Affiliated Hospitals of Health Promotion Center Region 4

Abstract

Objective: A survey study to evaluate management system of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy at affiliated public hospitals of Health Promotion Center Region 4 in Thailand.

Methods: The target populations were pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (excluded thalassemia disease) at affiliated public hospitals of Health Promotion Center Region 4. This descriptive study with retrospective data collection of registered antenatal care pregnant women was conducted between 20 February 2013 and 30 September 2013. The obstetric and socioeconomic factors, Hct1, Hct2 (≥ 6 weeks from Hct 1), screening of thalassemia/ hemoglobinopathies workup and iron intake information were recorded. The data were analyzed by the statistic program .

Results: A total of 341 anemic pregnant women were recruited. General samples data characteristics were expressed in numbers and percentages, divided into 3 groups, i.e. 1) improved anemic pregnant women 103 samples (30%) 2) unchanged anemic pregnant women 108 samples (32%) and 3) 130 newly found anemic pregnant women at 2^nd hematocrit (38%).

Patients profile and pregnancy information in all groups were corresponding. We furthered comparing iron supplement between first ANC with iron supplement after known to be anemic and found that there was no statistical significance (p=0.58) in terms of anemic treatment after following up.

Summary: There was poor efficacy of following up scheme/campaign for Iron supplement in iron deficiency anemia in pregnant mothers in public/governmental health providers. To date, professional guideline in prescription of iron supplement on this group of mothers does not exist. And individual professional prescription on iron supplement does not correlate with status of anemic pregnant women and their outcome.