STUDY ON IRON STATUS OF WOMEN AFTER DELIVERY

Abstract

In this study the iron status of pregnant women in two different socio-economic groups and also the effect of multigravidity on iron status of the mothers were investigated. Blood samples were with drawn from 165 mothers (91 from Farah and 74 from Missaghieh maternity hospital) immediately after delivery and hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and total protein levels were determined. The level of hematocrit and serum iron was significantly lower and TIBC was significantly higher in the mothers from Farah Maternity Hospital. No significant differences were found between the total protein levels between the two groups. In the mothers from Farah Maternity Hospital, the levels of hemoglobin, serum iron and total protein were decreased and TIBC was increased from primigravidas to multigravidas (three or more pregnancies).