Risk factors of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

Objective: To identify socioeconomic and dietary risk factors associated with iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Period: June to December 2025. Setting: Inpatient Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Methods: One hundred ninety-two pregnant women aged 20–35 years with laboratory-confirmed iron deficiency anemia were recruited through consecutive sampling. Iron deficiency was defined per RCOG hemoglobin thresholds across gestational trimesters. A pre-tested structured questionnaire captured demographic profiles, obstetric history, and dietary frequencies. Data analysis utilized SPSS version 23, with categorical associations evaluated via Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, establishing statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: Nutritional deficits were prominent; 38.0% consumed fewer than three daily meals, while 62.0%, 71.4%, and 44.8% reported suboptimal weekly consumption of meat, eggs, and vegetables. Overall, 54.2% demonstrated composite dietary insufficiency. Severity stratification highlighted socioeconomic disease gradients. Reduced educational attainment and lower household income were significantly associated with moderate to severe anemia (p=0.018 and p=0.007, respectively). Inter-pregnancy intervals under two years strongly predicted inadequate daily meal frequency (p=0.003) and multiple concurrent dietary deficiencies (p<0.001). Parity and geographic residence demonstrated no significant correlations. Conclusion: Maternal iron deficiency anemia in this cohort is primarily driven by financial limitations, poor dietary diversity, and short birth spacing. Implementing targeted nutritional education and structured family planning interventions remains essential for improving maternal hematological outcomes and reducing perinatal complications.