statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among the pregnant
women whose husbands were illiterate, the percentage
of anemia was found to be 97.87. The proportion of
the pregnant women suffering from anemia was found
to be decreased in those whose husbands had higher
education. The prevalence of anemia was almost 3
times higher in pregnant women whose husbands
were literate up to high school, whereas it was 16
times higher in pregnant women whose husbands
were illiterate as compared with the women whose
husbands had education at intermediate levels and
above. This association between the educational status
of the husbands and anemia in the pregnant women
was found to be significant statistically (P < 0.05).
Discussion
Although much effort has been taken to prevent anemia
in Indian women, still the prevalence of anemia during
pregnancy is found to be 87.2% from this study. A study
carried out among 7 states by Nutrition Foundation of
India had observed the overall prevalence of anemia
as 84% among pregnant women similar to the present
study.[10] “Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Task Force Multicenter Study” revealed that the
overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women
from 16 districts was 84.9% (range 61.0% –96.8%).[11]
The prevalence observed is similar to that reported
for pregnant women (60%–77%) in Dar es Salaam-
Tanzania,[12-14] Sudan,[15,16] and Nigeria.[17]
In developed countries, the prevalence of anemia was
only 18% among pregnant women as reported by
WHO (1998).[18] The socioeconomic developments,
higher standard of living, better utilization of health
care facilities along with increasing literacy rate are
associated with the low prevalence of anemia in
developed countries. A high prevalence of anemia
among pregnant Hindu women as compared with
Muslim women was observed in the present study. The