Do Psychological Fear Factors in the Poor Pregnant Women Lead to Anemia?

Abstract

Background: Anemia very specifically iron deficiency anemia remains a threat for the women of reproductive thereby increasing the maternal and neonatal mortality. Besides pregnancy depressions, there are a wide range of psychological fears that run in the minds of pregnant women in Rajasthan altering either their eating pattern or affecting their antenatal care and visits which directly or indirectly become a cause for anemia. Objectives: The aim is to identify the psychological fear factors leading to anemia in the target group. Materials and Methods: Questionnaire-based, descriptive study of the pregnant women at Janana Hospital for their antenatal visits and delivery. Description statistics was applied to come to the inferences. Results: It was found that fear of the pandemic, violence by the intimate partner, fear of girl child, and the taunt arising from the mother having no male kept the pregnant women away from the antenatal care which led to a late diagnosis of anemia. Barrenness and occult practices altered their approach to diet which too became a cause for anemia. Mud eating also had an impact on anemia (picca). Conclusion and Recommendation: Psychological factors have a role in causing anemia during pregnancy. Proper education, awareness programs specially in this pandemic period.