March 2020 · Volume 9 · Issue 3 Page 1055 International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology Nimbalkar PB et al. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Mar;9(3):1055-1059 www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789 Original Research Article Assessment of knowledge regarding anaemia and its preventive measures among lactating mothers of North Gujarat region, India Pankajkumar B. Nimbalkar 1 , Maulik D. Joshi 2 *, Nilesh Thakor 3 , Avirat A. Bhatt 4 INTRODUCTION Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy. According to World Health Organization (WHO) anaemia is defined as “haemoglobin less than 11 gm/dl and a haematocrit of less than 0.33. Most women begin their pregnancy with partially or completely depleted iron reserves. Thus, the severity of the anaemia is inversely related to the amount of iron reserves. 1 Anaemia is a global public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries with major consequences for human health. Anaemia in pregnancy and lactation period has detrimental effects on maternal and child health. WHO has estimated that prevalence of ABSTRACT Background: Anaemia in pregnancy and lactation period has detrimental effects on maternal and child health. Objective of this study was to assess knowledge of lactating mothers regarding anaemia and its preventive measures before and after educational intervention. Methods: The interventional study conducted in purposively selected lactating mothers attending the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynecology. Hospital ethical committee permission was obtained. After taking informed consent 100 lactating mothers were selected by systemic random sampling methods. Knowledge of lactating mothers regarding anaemia and its preventive measures was assessed by pre-designed, pre-tested and semi structured questionnaire. Health education for 30 minutes was given to selected lactating mothers. Knowledge of pregnant women for the same was assessed after health education. Thus, collected data was analyzed using Epi info 7. Results: Awareness among lactating mothers regarding causes, signs and symptoms of anemia and dietary sources of iron was 41%, 26% and 5% respectively which was significantly increased to 73%, 56% and 42% respectively after health education. Awareness among lactating mothers regarding factors which inhibit and increase iron absorption was 31% and 22% respectively which was significantly increased to 80% and 65% respectively after health education. Out of 100 lactating mothers only 24% were aware regarding treatment of anemia. Conclusions: Lack of awareness among lactating mothers regarding anemia and its preventive measure should be addressed by health education during hospital visits. Keywords: Assessment, Anaemia, Knowledge, Lactating mothers, Iron deficiency DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20200874 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nootan Medical College and Research Center, Visnagar, Gujarat, India 2 Department of Public Health, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India 3 Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Vadnagar, Gujarat, India 4 Consultant for Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition, CDN Section, UNICEF, Gujarat, India Received: 12 December 2019 Accepted: 04 January 2020 *Correspondence: Dr. Maulik D. Joshi, E-mail: researchforbetterhealth@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.