Anaemia and iron deficiency in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in Southern Sri Lanka

Introduction In Sri Lanka the current prevalence of anaemia during pregnancy is estimated to be less than 20%. Objectives To determine the rate of anaemia defined as hemoglobin concentration Methods Three hundred and fifty consecutive pregnant women with gestations between 12 to 20 weeks, presenting to the Academic Obstetric Unit at the Teaching Hospital Mahamodera, Galle, Sri Lanka from 10.11.2014  to 13.01.2015 had their heamoglobin and hematocrit measured by flow-cytometry and hydro-dynamic focusing methods using a Sysmex- XS-500i System and serum ferritin measured by electro-chemiluminescence method using a Cobas-e411 Analyzer. The rate of anaemia was calculated. The best cut off level of serum ferritin for the detection of anaemia was obtained using a Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve, and using this cut off, the rate of iron deficiency was calculated. Results The rate of anaemia was 16.6%. The best cut off level of serum ferritin for the detection of anaemia was Conclusion Rates of anaemia (16.6%) and iron deficiency (36.9%) in pregnancy are at levels of mild to moderate public health significance respectively.