Association of Iron Deficiency Anemia with Maternal Psychological DistressDuring Pregnancy

Samaa Qureshi; Zujaja Hina Haroon; Muhammad Qaiser Alam Khan; Muhammad Usman Munir; Muhammad Younas; Muhammad Anwar

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v76i2.10044

Authors

Samaa Qureshi Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Zujaja Hina Haroon Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Qaiser Alam Khan Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Usman Munir Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Younas Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Muhammad Anwar Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76i2.10044

Keywords:

Ferritin, Iron deficiency anemia, Pregnancy, Psychological distress

Abstract

Objective: To establish an association between iron deficiency anemia and maternal psychological distress during pregnancy.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Chemical Pathology & Endocrinology department of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from July to December 2022.

Methodology: A total of 131 individuals were categorized into iron deficiency anemia (IDA) Group (n = 51) and non-IDA Group with normal pregnant females or those having anemias of etiology other than iron deficiency (n = 80) using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. The risk of psychological distress was measured by a scale adopted from Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21.

Results: Antenatal depression, anxiety and stress in IDA as compared to non-IDA Group (86.3 % vs 43.8 %, 84.3 % vs 51.2 %, and 91.1 % vs 66.3 %) showed significant difference (< 0.001) respectively. There was a significant negative correlation (r) of depression (r = -0.32), anxiety (r = -0.40), and stress (r = -0.37) with the serum ferritin levels (p= <0.001). Women having IDA were eight times more likely to develop depression (OR=8.08, CI 95% [3.25, 20.11]), five times more likely to develop anxiety (OR=5.11, CI 95% [2.14, 12.24]) and eight times more likely to develop stress (OR=8.15, CI 95% [2.32, 28.59]) than those without IDA during pregnancy.

Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia plays a significant role in increasing the risk of antenatal psychological distress when compared with non-IDA Group which should be addressed timely for better pregnancy outcomes.

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