OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anaemia and to evaluate the factors that condition its occurrence.Setting. Out-patient clinics in the La Plata area, Buenos Aires, Argentina. DESIGN: Observational and prospective study. PARTICIPANTS: All the pregnant women consulting for the first time, excluding those with prior pathology or regular use of medical drugs. MEASUREMENTS: Anaemia was defined at values of Hb < 11 g/dl. Questionnaires were administered for general data and the type of nutrition, and a complete haematological report was compiled. RESULTS: 1218 pregnant women started the study. Anaemia was detected in 196 of them (16%), with average Hb 9.88 g/dl. Between normal and anaemic pregnant women, the following differences were found between the first and second consultations: weight (64.44 vs 59.50, p < 0.00001), family income (US$744.36 vs 568.28, p < 0.0001), kilocalories ingested (2,488.44 vs 2,204.28, p = 0.01), percentage of proteins in diet (15.73 vs 13.69, p = 0.002), and weekly iron consumption (15.24 mg vs 13.04, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women run a greater risk of suffering anaemia if they have diets of < 1800 kcal, < 13% proteins, less than 7 mg of iron per week, and haemic iron < 10%; and family income below US$400. Ensuring a proper diet and improving the social and economic conditions of this population group will reduce the risk of anaemia during pregnancy and its perinatal consequences.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anaemia and to evaluate the factors that condition its occurrence.Setting. Out-patient clinics in the La Plata area, Buenos Aires, Argentina. DESIGN: Observational and prospective study. PARTICIPANTS: All the pregnant women consulting for the first time, excluding those with prior pathology or regular use of medical drugs. MEASUREMENTS: Anaemia was defined at values of Hb < 11 g/dl. Questionnaires were administered for general data and the type of nutrition, and a complete haematological report was compiled. RESULTS: 1218 pregnant women started the study. Anaemia was detected in 196 of them (16%), with average Hb 9.88 g/dl. Between normal and anaemic pregnant women, the following differences were found between the first and second consultations: weight (64.44 vs 59.50, p < 0.00001), family income (US$744.36 vs 568.28, p < 0.0001), kilocalories ingested (2,488.44 vs 2,204.28, p = 0.01), percentage of proteins in diet (15.73 vs 13.69, p = 0.002), and weekly iron consumption (15.24 mg vs 13.04, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women run a greater risk of suffering anaemia if they have diets of < 1800 kcal, < 13% proteins, less than 7 mg of iron per week, and haemic iron < 10%; and family income below US$400. Ensuring a proper diet and improving the social and economic conditions of this population group will reduce the risk of anaemia during pregnancy and its perinatal consequences.