Maternal Mortality Is Mainly Caused By Iron Deficiency Anemia---Experts

Medical expert have said that iron deficiency anemia was a leading cause of maternal mortality and perinatal mortality as well as complications to fetus including risk of premature delivery and low birth weights.
This was said by Associate Professor Gyenae Unit-1 of Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr. Lubna Ali speaking at a Continuing Medical Education Seminar held at Dr. Essa’s Laboratory, here on Monday.
She said World Health Organization defines anemia in pregnancy as when blood hemoglobin levels are below 11gm/dl in 1st trimester & 3rd trimester and below 10.5 gm/dl in 2nd trimester.
She defined that iron deficiency anemia is the commonest type of anemia and according to a study it is been reported to effect 50 to 60% of pregnant women in our population and about 340/100,000 women dies due to severe anemia.
"The most common reason for high prevalence being deficiency of essential elements for hemoglobin synthesis (Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid), blood loss, poverty, bad socioeconomic conditions, repeated pregnancy in females".
The usual adult dose for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia is 100 to 200 mg elemental iron daily.
She suggested that the blood iron levels of women of childbearing age should be regularly monitored and proper nutritional care should be taken to overcome this problem and to save life of thousands of
women who die due to anemia during pregnancy in our country.
General Secretary Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Fahim Siddiqui said they want KUJ's Health Committee’s health reporters trained about different health issue.
Dr Sabiha Essa, Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah Abedin and other were present.
Professor of Pathology of Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Consultant Histopathologist & Cytopathologist at Dr. Essa’s Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre Dr. Naila Zaheer spoke
on “Laboratory Investigation In Skin Disorders”