Abstract

Background: Anemia is the most common medical disorder observed among pregnant women, its incidence being particularly high in many underdeveloped tropical countries where it remains a major contributing factor to maternal morbidity, and it is also associated with high perinatal mortality rates.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant females.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional primary health-care-based study, which included pregnant females attending antenatal care clinic at Rusaifah primary health care center in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia, during 2013–2014 through a checklist especially designed by the investigator.

Results: The prevalence of anemia was 28%, 49.5%, and 37% in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Anemia was mostly of mild type and was significantly associated with age of the last child, age of pregnant women in the first trimester, and birth weight of the outcome child.

Conclusion: Anemia was found to be high in this study population and was associated with several factors. This indicates the necessity to improve the quality and quantity of food rich in iron for pregnant women through health education.

Key words: Anemia, pregnancy, prevalence, Saudi Arabia