EFFECT OF ANTENATAL SERVICES DURING PREGNANCY ON PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONGST PREGNANT WOMEN IN LUCKNOW

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of antenatal care services (ANC) during pregnancy on prevalence of anemia amongst pregnant women in Lucknow. STUDY DESIGN: Cross‑sectional study. STUDY AREA: Urban and rural areas of Lucknow. STUDY SUBJECTS: A total of 420 pregnant women. RESULTS: More than half (65.2%) of the pregnant women registered their pregnancy at any health facility. The overall prevalence of anemia was 73.1%. Of these, the moderate anemia was 47.6%, mild was 43.6%, and severe was 8.8%. The prevalence of anemia was significantly lower (35%) in those who have received ANC services than who did not (RR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.59-0.72, P < 0.0001) and this was not associated with the number of visits. The prevalence of anemia was significantly lower (65%) in those who have consumed 100 IFA tablets (RR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.24-0.51, P < 0.0001). The prevalence was also significantly lower (53%) in those who have received two doses of TT injection (RR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.39-0.56, P < 0.0001). The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that the components of ANC services were significantly associated with the prevalence of anemia when adjusted for socio‑demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: The ANC services well correlated with the prevalence of anemia so, it is to be promoted that every pregnant woman should get ANC services in time.