OBJECTIVES: The current study was planned to assess the prevalence/Frequency of Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women in district Quetta, Pakistan and assess the risk factors associated for anemia

METHODS: Blood samples of 130 pregnant women randomly selected of age group (18-40) years. One ml of venous blood were used for hemoglobin estimation using an automatic hematology analyzer and serum ferritin examination using immunolescent technique. The WHO criterion for anemia in pregnancy was applied and serum ferritin < 20 µg/l as cut-off point for iron deficiency. Data regarding risk factors were gathered using pre-designed questionnaires

RESULTS : The overall prevalence of anemia was 70% anemia was observed in Third Trimester (80%) as compare to the second (14%) and first (28%) trimester of pregnancy. Out of the 104 anemic patients only 12 (15.0%) were having iron rich dietary habits while 68 (80.0%) were having poor dietary habits

CONCLUSIONS : The socio-economic factors (monthly income, age, ethnic group) indicated no significant correlation between anemic and non anemic pregnant women. Current analysis exposed high prevalence of anemia and the maximum of them were of the moderate (hemoglobin: 8.1 -9.9 g/dl).30%