Anemia in pregnant women from two cities in the South and Mid-West Regions of Brazil

Abstract

We aimed to analyze anemia distribution in pregnant women who were attending health services in two cities in the South and Mid-West Regions in Brazil. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study developed from 954 and 781 medical records data in Cuiabá-MT and Maringá-PR. We collected data of social and demographic features as well as pre-natal care. Women who presented hemoglobin lower then 11g/dL were considered having anemia. Social inequity between the two cities was evident. Pregnant women from Cuiabá-MT were significantly poorer then those from Maringá-PR. Anemia prevalence was higher and means of hemoglobin were lower in Cuiabá-MT, apart from gestational age. We found that the age, marital status, number of previous pregnancies, nutritional status and gestational trimester were associated with the level of hemoglobin. Regional differences in the occurrence of anemia are social determined and should be considered in the proposal of interventions in the public health field.