Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Pregnant Women Regarding Iron Deficiency Anemia attending obstetrics OPD Teaching Hospital D.G. Khan

Anemia in pregnancy is a serious risk to maternal and fetal health. This study was conducted to assess the KAP of pregnant women regarding anemia to identify gaps and propose interventions. A total of 200 women participated in this cross-sectional study, including 180 stay-at-home mothers and 20 working women, with a mean age of 23.44 ± 10.2 years. Most participants had a BMI between 18.9–23.5 kg/m². Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed for KAP patterns. While 54% of the participants recognized that anemia is more common in pregnancy, only 1% knew that combining an iron-rich diet with supplements could prevent it. Furthermore, 9% understood the impact of iron deficiency on fetal growth, and 51.5% were aware of the availability of free iron supplements in government facilities. Regarding attitudes, 51.9% of women agreed on the importance of a healthy diet and supplements, but only 16% emphasized regular check-ups. Practices showed that 74.8% followed a routine diet without focusing on iron-rich foods, and only 3.1% used iron supplements. The study highlights significant gaps in knowledge and practices related to anemia prevention during pregnancy, despite moderate awareness of supplement availability. Targeted health education programs are essential to bridge these gaps, promote iron-rich diets, and encourage supplement use to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.