IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
Around 65% of pregnant women in South Asia suffer from IDA & in Indiansub-continent alone, the rate of developing IDA during pregnancy is 88%. Moreover anemicpregnant patients are more likely to give birth to low birth weight babies which itself is anotherfactor adding to socio-economic burden on the whole family. The food has not been fortified forIron, Zinc & Vitamin D & hence the prevention of anemia has not yet been achieved Objectives:To study Awareness of women about food fortification & prevention of IDA Vs cost for treatinganemia. Period: August 2015-Dec 2015. Study Design: Observational Study. Settings: At BhattiInternational Hospital, Kasur Results: Among the selected anemic women, almost half (55%)had mild anemia, while rest had moderate to severe anemia indicting that the prevalence is verycommon. The treatment offered was oral &/or IV Iron with blood transfusions. The cost of iv Irontherapy & blood transfusions estimates in thousands with added risks of Transfusion Reactions,allergic reactions& transmission of blood-borne diseases like HCV,HBV,HIV(AIDS)&others. Theawareness level was found to be poor among these women .Only 8/60 i.e 13% had someidea about iron deficiency anemia & almost none knew about food fortifications. The insightabout their own disease of IDA was also 35% (21/60) indicating that most of the women incommunity live with IDA without any understanding of a preventable condition. Conclusion:The cost & time spend to treat IDA can be minimizes creating awareness about food fortification& supplementation.