A Study of Maternal Anemia and Utilization of Antenatal and Postnatal Care Services in Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat

Background and objective Despite significant gains and achieving progress in the last decade, maternal anemia remains a major public health concern in India. Both antenatal (AN) and postnatal (PN) women are populations adversely affected by anemia. Reducing anemia among AN and PN women is one of the national priorities of Anemia Mukt Bharat. The present study aimed at assessing the prevalence of anemia, utilization of AN and PN care (ANC and PNC) services, and drivers of anemia among pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in four blocks of Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat. A total of 1,185 PLWs were interviewed. Anemia was determined based on the last Hb test record on the Mamta Card (Mother and Child Protection Card). Results The mean age of the study population was 25.19 ±3.91 years: 24.95 ±3.94 years for pregnant women and 25.45 ±4.01 years for lactating women. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women (Hb: <11 g/dL) was 72.92%; 33.91% had moderate and 0.83% had severe anemia. The prevalence of anemia among lactating women (Hb: <12 g/dL) was 26%; 63.93% had moderate and 1.29% had severe anemia. The utilization of nutrition and health services was found to be limited. Of the other sociodemographic factors, age (p=0.045), birth spacing (p=0.014), and education (p=0.017) were significant determinants of anemia among pregnant women, whereas parity (p=0.002), birth spacing (p=0.003), religion (p=0.041), and receipt of take-home ration (THR) (p=0.018) were significantly associated with anemia among lactating women. Conclusion The study revealed a high prevalence of anemia among PLWs and sub-optimal utilization of nutritional and healthcare services in Devbhumi Dwarka. Implementing interventions such as comprehensive nutrition education and counseling can contribute toward improving maternal and child health outcomes.