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Abstract
Background: Anemia during pregnancy remains an important maternal and public-health concern, particularly in settings where nutritional, socioeconomic, reproductive, and healthcare-related factors contribute to maternal vulnerability. Evidence from Pakistan indicates a substantial burden of maternal anemia, but local data from specific tertiary-care settings remain limited.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of anemia and identify sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, and healthcare-related factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Wah Cantt, Taxila.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 pregnant women aged 18–40 years attending antenatal care at POF Hospital, Wah Cantt, Taxila. Participants were selected using consecutive sampling. Data on sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, and healthcare-related factors were collected using a structured proforma, and hemoglobin levels were measured from venous blood samples using a validated laboratory method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test used to assess associations between anemia and potential risk factors. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 250 pregnant women, 64.4% were anemic, with a mean hemoglobin level of 10.2 ± 1.6 g/dL. Anemia was significantly associated with younger age, lower education, fewer antenatal care visits, lack of deworming, rural residence, and shorter birth interval (p < .05). No significant associations were observed with occupation, family type, or history of miscarriage.
Conclusion: Anemia represents a substantial health concern among pregnant women attending the study hospital and is associated with multiple sociodemographic, reproductive, and healthcare-related factors. Strengthening antenatal care, nutritional counseling, appropriate deworming, and targeted preventive interventions may help address modifiable factors associated with maternal anemia.