A Cross-Sectional Study on the Distribution of Hemoglobin Levels Among Pregnant Women in Quetta, Balochistan

Background and Objective: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional disorder among pregnant women worldwide, posing a serious threat to both maternal and fetal health. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women in Quetta District, Balochistan, and to compare hematological parameters between trimesters. Materials and Methods: A survey, laboratory tests, and a cross-sectional study were conducted at Civil Hospital Quetta, involving 75 randomly sampled pregnant women. Blood was analyzed using a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to measure key hematological parameters such as Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), and Hematocrit (HCT). Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel to compute frequencies, percentages, and mean±standard deviation, with statistical significance considered at p<0.05. Results: 80% of participants had hemoglobin levels between 10-11 g/dL, indicating a high prevalence of anemia. All hematological parameters were below the reference range, supporting a diagnosis of microcytic hypochromic anemia typical of iron deficiency. The prevalence of anemia was highest in the second trimester, coinciding with increased physiological iron requirements. Conclusion: These findings highlight iron deficiency anemia as a significant public health issue among pregnant women in Quetta, driven by poor dietary habits, low adherence to supplementation, and socioeconomic factors. There is an urgent need to improve nutritional education, make routine antenatal screening mandatory, and increase access to iron and folic acid supplements to reduce maternal anemia and improve pregnancy outcomes in resource-limited settings.