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Research Paper | Psychiatry | India | Volume 12 Issue 3, March 2023 | Rating: 5.3 / 10

Correlation between Anaemia and Perceived Stress in Antenatal Women Attending Antenatal Clinics

Dr. Renu Mounika .T | Dr. E. Ananda Reddy

Abstract: Perceived stress is defined as the feelings or thoughts that an individual has about how much a stressful event or situation occurs at a given time or over a given period. Anemia has serious short- and long-term consequences during pregnancy and beyond, such as the increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and delayed cognitive development in children. The aim of this study is to identify the correlation between anemia and Perceived stress in pregnant women. Data and Methods: A cross-sectional study, was conducted on pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics. Women with a known history of psychiatric illness, Intellectual disability, or surgical or medical co-morbidities (Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Cardiovascular diseases, thyroid disorders), any stressful life events prior to pregnancy, and women who did not give consent for the study will be excluded from the study. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was measured by collecting a venous blood sample and applying it to aHb analyzer. Based on the hemoglobin concentration study subjects were divided into two subgroups: The anemic group (Hb <11 gm/dl) and the non-anemic group (Hb ?11 gm/dl). Sheldon Cohen?s Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure and assess the severity of stress in study subjects.The study subjects who scored less than 13 on Cohen?s Perceived scale were considered as free from stress, 13-20 score was taken as mild to the moderate stress level, and the above 20 was taken as severe stress. The correlation between Anemia and Perceived stress in Pregnancy was calculated using the Pearson Chi-Square test. Results: Out of 100 study participants, 74 individuals were anemic and 26 individuals were non-anemic. The frequency of subjects with high perceived stress scores in the Anemic group was higher compared to the non-Anemic group. Anemia had a positive correlation with perceived stress scores. The level of significance was taken at a p-value less than 0.05. Conclusion: As anemia is associated with higher perceived stress levels, it should be carefully considered during pregnancy.

Keywords: Anemia, perceived stress, pregnancy, Hemoglobin Concentration

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 3, March 2023,

Pages: 408 - 410