Maternal anemia and its impact on neonatal outcome: A retrospective study at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Abstract

Maternal anemia is a very common problem in country like India. The prevalence of it is around 56%. As per WHO guidelines maternal anemia is defined as hemoglobin concentration <11g/dl. It results many complications like Post-partum hemorrhage, sepsis, PIH & death. This study is designed to look at the outcomes of neonates born to mother with anemia. The objective of this study is to find the impact of maternal anemia on neonatal outcome. This is a retrospective study conducted in IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar. The study period was 6 months (01.02. 2019-30.07.2019). In this study period, baseline data of the mothers admitted to Obstetrics units were collected. Total 370 mothers were enrolled. Participants in study were divided into 2 groups-maternal anemia or no anemia. Mothers with APH, anemia due to acute blood loss & multiple gestation were excluded. Immediate neonatal outcomes (NICU admission due to any reason, small for gestational age) of the neonates born to these mothers were documented from neonatal unit at IMS and SUM Hospital. Need of NICU admission was significantly high for neonates born to anemic mothers as compared to neonates born to nonanemic mothers (53.8% vs 18.5%, RD-35.3%, 95% CI: [34.1, 36.5], P value <0.001). On regression analysis after adjusting with gestational age and birth weight, for every 1gm/dl decrease of hemoglobin in mother, the risk of NICU admissions has increased by 39%. Our study suggests that low maternal hemoglobin increases NICU admissions and its severity further increases its number and other complications.