Abstract:Objective: The objective of the study was to study the effect of supplementary diet on Anemia in Pregnancy of different physiological status of three groups of Purba Midnapur District in West Bengal.
Design: Cross sectional study, using 7-day food record and blood hemoglobin, serum iron, concentrations with weight and BMI.
Setting: Different regions of Tamluk at Purba Midnapore district in West Bengal.
Subjects: A total of 75 women from low socio-economic group aged 16 -40 years participated in this study. The subjects divided in to three groups (control group.1, medicinal treted.2 and medicinal + dietary treted.3). On a selected subject of 25 control group, 25 Medicinal treated group and 25 medicinal + dietary treated group pregnant women.
Results: The weight (Kg) in medicinal treated group and medicinal + dietary treat group after 30 days ware (50.85 ± 1.61, 51.55 ± 1.53) and 60 days ware (52.4 ± 1.56, 53.15 ± 1.51) ware significantly increased (P<0.001) compeered with control group. The BMI (Kg/m2) In medicinal treated group and medicinal + dietary treat group after 30 days ware (21.13 ± 0.55, 21.85 ± 0.53) and 60 days ware (21.32 ± 0.47, 21.92 ± 0.45) ware significantly increased (P<0.001) compeered with control group. The Hemoglobin (g/100ml) in medicinal treated group and medicinal + dietary treat group after 30 days ware (9.25 ± 0.222, 10.13 ± 0.217) significantly increased and 60 days ware (10.68 ± 0.218, 11.5 ± 0.214). In medicinal + dietary treated group after 30 days and 60 days ware significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.001) respectively compeered with control group but in medicinal treated group the value was not significantly changed after 30 days, only increased significantly (P<0.001) after 60 days. The Serum Iron (μg/dl ) In medicinal treated group and medicinal + dietary treat group after 30 days ware 106.00 ± 2.480, 107.70 ± 3.869 and 60 days ware 107.89 ± 2.579, 111.38 ± 3.931. After 60 days the value in medicinal + dietary treated group was significantly increased (P<0.01) compeered with control group.
Conclusions: the results of the present study show that anemia and iron deficiency are prevalent at Purba Midnapur District women of low socio-economic groups. It shows also the essentiality of combating iron deficiency among women of different physiological status, especially in low socio-economic group. Only medicinal treatment is not sufficient for prevention of iron deficiency anemia. As there is evidence to show that iron in medicinal form is better absorbed with dietary iron so dietary iron supplementation combined with medicine and other measures which increase the bioavailability iron intake for the whole population could be the suggested strategies to improve iron status.