Frequency of iron deficiency anemia and values of normal for hemoglobin in pregnant women.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of anemia and the normal values for hemoglobin in pregnant women attending prenatal supplementation with iron. Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted on 393 medical records of pregnant women attended by the service of Obstetrics, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, between October 2006 and October 2008.
Results: The patients age average was 26.13 + 4.4 years and the minimum and maximum values were 19 and 35 years respectively. Were observed mean 12.5 +0.97 g/dl, 11.65 + 1.4 g/dl and 11.83 + 1.5 g/dl for hemoglobin, during the first, second and third trimesters, respectively.
Results: Were identified 8 patients (2.8%) with anemia in the first trimester, 20 patients (7.14%) with anemia in the second trimester and 27 patients (9.6%) with anemia in the third trimester of pregnancy, with no parity association.
Conclusions: It was concluded that exists hemoglobin decrease in the second trimester of pregnancy, with recovery in the third trimester, even in pregnant women subjected to the prophylactic iron. Moreover, anemia was problem but their frequency was lower than those recorded in other services.