Serum Ferritin Dynamics in Maternal Anemia Management: Implications for Preterm Birth Risk: Serum Ferritin and Preterm Birth Risk in Maternal Anemia

Annam Ijaz; Yasmeen Akhtar; Zainab Zaib

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v7i10.3977

Authors

Annam Ijaz Department of Gynecology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbotabad, Pakistan
Yasmeen Akhtar Department of Gynecology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbotabad, Pakistan
Zainab Zaib Department of Endocrinology, Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i10.3977

Keywords:

Maternal Anemia, Gestational Age, Term, Pre-term, Management Strategies, Oral Iron, Intravenous Iron

Abstract

Preterm birth is one of the major factors that lead to neonatal morbidity and mortality, and maternal iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) has been described as a key but treatable risk factor. There is little evidence of the most commonly practiced approaches to the management of IDA, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: To compare the frequency of different anemia management strategies (oral iron, intravenous iron, and blood transfusion) between term and pre-term deliveries. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. A total of 150 anemic women aged 15 to 40 years admitted for term or pre-term delivery were compared for anemia management strategies in terms of oral, intravenous iron, and blood transfusion. Results: A total of 150 were studied, 78(52.0%) were term and 72 (48.0%) were pre-term. The mean age in the term group was 38.6 ± 1.2 weeks and 35.0 ± 1.4 weeks in the pre-term group. Overall, 95 (63.3%) received oral treatment, 40 (26.7%) IV, and 15(10.0%) blood transfusion. In the term group, 49 (62.8%) received oral compared to 46 (63.9%) in the preterm group, while IV iron was administered to 21 (26.9%) and 19 (26.4%) patients in the term and preterm groups, respectively (p=0.985). Conclusions: Anemia management techniques are similar for both term and preterm patients, with oral iron remaining the most common. Treatment choices seem to be predominantly influenced by the degree of anemia and socioeconomic circumstances.

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