The prevalence of anemia in first consultation pregnant women of health centers in a metropolitan area, Brazil

Abstract

Three hundred and sixty-three pregnant women enrolled in the Pregnancy Medical Care Program of S. Paulo Health Department from the district of Butantan, S. Paulo city, Brazil, were studied at the first routine consultation. At the time they were examined they were not given any medicine containing iron, folie acid or vitamin B12. Their average age was 25 and 65.9% belonged to families with a monthly per capita income below US$ 50.00. Only 3.1% had a per capita income above U$$ 150.00. The prevalence of anemia was 12.4%. The hemoglobin concentration (grams/dl) in the first trimester was significantly higher than in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The prevalence of anemia in the first trimesters (3.6%) was significantly smaller than that found in the second (20.9%) and third semesters (32.1%). Those women who had had more than three gestations presented a higher prevalence of anemia than those with less than three, and the prevalence of anemia was higher in the group whose families had a monthly per capita income below US$ 25.00.