PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF PREGNANCY-RELATED ANEMIA IN WOMEN LIVING IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS, IN THE POLLOG REGION

Zamira Bexheti, Gazmend Zylbeari, Mimoza Baftijari

Abstract

Anemia is defined as a low number of red blood cells (RBC – Erythrocytes), Hemoglobin (Hb) or Hematocrit (Htc). Anemia during pregnancy most often is a consequence of iron and hemoglobin deficiency (World Health Organization, Iron deficiency anaemia: assessment, prevention and control: a guide for program managers, 2001,What Is Anemia? -NHLBI, NIH". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved, 2016;01-31). It is estimated that 1.62 billion people worldwide suffer from anemia, which accounts for 24,8% of the population, and the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy is around 74%. Rarely, anemia during pregnancy can manifest with signs and symptoms of severe anemia (World Health Organization, Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993-2005: WHO global database on anaemia, 2008). Purpose of study: the purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of anemia in symptomatic pregnant women, taking into account their residence (urban or rural areas) in the region of Pollog. Material and methods: Thisretrospective “cross-sectional” studyincluded a total number of 200 pregnant women of whom 100 pregnant women live in urban areas, and 100 pregnant women live in rural areas with an identical age average of 25.60 ±12.00 years. The data was collected from January until October of 2018. In each pregnant patient, we examined the concentrations of RBC, Hb, Htc, and iron (Fe++) during each trimester of pregnancy. Results: The average value and standard deviation values for anemia during pregnancy in women living in rural and urban areas are presented. In the rural areas, anemia was present in 100 women whereas in women living in urban areas anemia was present in 100 pregnant women. The results from the obtained values for the examined parameters (RBC, Hb, Htc and Fe++) for women living in rural and urban areas are presented in tabular and chart forms ( Table 3 and Chart 2). From the obtained values, a significant statistical difference was observed for p=0,0001 between women of rural and urban areas. Conclusion: in our paper we observed that women in living in urban settlements had higher concentrations of the examined parameters (RBC, Hb, Htc, Fe++) with a significant difference of p=0.0001 in comparison to women who live in rural areas. Awareness of anemia in women living in rural settlements was lower compared to women living in urban areas. Anemia between these groups of women can be attributed to inadequate diet,poor access to health services, literature, lack of knowledge about the effects and consequences of anemia on the baby, lifestyle, etc.We think there is a need for contribution through lectures, more frequent checks, brochures for the raising of awareness on consequences of anemia, in women living in rural areas, is needed, which we think would significantly affect the reduction of the rate of prevalence of anemia in pregnant women among those living in rural areas.

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