Maternal Genetics, Health and Hematological Profile of Pregnant Women in Madhya Pradesh, India

A healthy woman is an asset for a happy and healthy family. Public health issues concerning women and their health care are: sanitation, nutrition, pregnancy, childbirth, prenatal and postnatal care. Women face high risk for susceptibility and affliction of diseases, nutrition, fetal growth and development, disabilities and even death at three critical stages of life – infancy, early childhood and reproductive phase. Pregnant women are an important segment of the society. They bear the children and provide nourishment to them during the gestation period of around nine months. The health of a mother reflects the health of a child. A cross-sectional study of pregnant women visiting for antenatal care at NSCB Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur, in Madhya Pradesh, India was conducted during April 2013 to January 2014. Out of total 231 pregnant women studied, the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies was found to be 14.3%, with alarming 59-80% mild to severe anemia. Major hemoglobinopathies detected were: sickle cell trait (8.7%), sickle cell disease (2.6%), β-thalassemia trait (2.6%), and hemoglobin E trait (0.4%). Reduced values of hematological indices were noted in women afflicted with hemoglobin disorders than the normal controls. Low hematological indices profile does not show significant variations of these pregnant women with and without hemoglobinopathies and indicate very poor health status of pregnant women in general. A more vigorous and realistic campaign of prophylactic regime of supplementations for these pregnant women and child health care is suggested. Mandatory awareness, comprehensive clinical management, and genetic/marriage counseling are highly essential to ameliorate the sufferings of afflicted pregnant women.

Keywords: Maternal genetic health, Pregnant women, Diet supplementation, Prophylactic regime, Bio-cultural determinants, Comprehensive clinical management, genetic counseling.