Comparison of severity of anemia in pregnant women who are under ARVS and pregnant women who are HIV negative in Temeke, Amana and Mwananyamala Hospitals

Anemia is defined as a decrease in number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin and is regarded as factor for unfavorable outcomes in pregnancy. It has been associated with premature labor, low birth weight, maternal and perinatal mortality The WHO defines anemia in pregnancy as hemoglobin concentration (Hb) less than 11.0 g/dl, and severe anemia as Hb less than 7.0 g/dl. The cause of anemia in pregnancy is multi- factorial, Low caloric intake leading to deficiencies in iron, folate, vitamin Bl2 and vitamin A, as well as intestinal parasitic infections, malaria, haemoglobinopathies and HIV have all been shown to be the main causes of anemia among pregnant African women. OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to compare the severity of anemia between HIV positive pregnant women using ARV’S and HIV negative women but also to determine the risk factors of anemia and to which percentage do they affect and this was taken into account Of the three hospitals of Mwananyamala, Temeke and Amana. METHODOLOGY. The data was taken by grouping the women into two groups. The first part consisted of pregnant women who were I•HV positive and they were using ARV’S and the second part consisted of pregnant women who were HIV negative .for the first part a total number of 151 files were reviewed to obtain the data and for the second part a total number of 153tiles were reviewed in order to use them as controls to compare with those who had HIV .The age of these women ranged from 18 and 45 and the tiles from June 2010 to January 2013 were included. RESULTS. After a careful analysis of data the results show that for the first group of women who are HIV+ 75.5% had mild to moderate anemia with HB levels between 7 and 11g/dl while l0.9% had severe anemia showing HB levels between 4 and 5 g/dl and the remaining 13.9% had normal HB levels , for the second group of pregnant women who were HIV- 53.6% had mild to moderate anemia and 3.9% had severe anemia and remaining 42.5% had normal HB levels of more than 11g/dl. In addition to many effects of anemia to maternal and neonate it also greatly associated with low birth weight (LBW) CONCLUSION. Anemia is a severe public health problem in Dar es Salaam area and strategies to deal with the associating factors or the risk factors should be greatly encouraged .the things like removing the breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of mosquito treated nets is very important also the deworming processes should be done and improving the nutrition requirement for the pregnant wome