Prevalence of Anemia and the Influence of Nutritional and Economic Status on Pregnant Women in Meerut City

Background: Anemia during pregnancy remains a significant public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It contributes to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and is influenced by multiple socioeconomic, dietary, and obstetric factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Meerut City. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 pregnant women attending antenatal care services at an Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC) in Meerut City. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, dietary habits, knowledge regarding anemia, and supplementation adherence were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin levels were measured to classify anemia severity. Bivariate analysis identified factors associated with anemia, and variables with p < 0.10 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of the total 210 respondents, the overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 63.8%, with 28.6% having mild anemia, 31.4% moderate anemia, and 3.8% severe anemia. Anemia was significantly more prevalent among women from low-income households (p < 0.001), those with lower educational attainment (p = 0.002), poor dietary intake (p < 0.001), and limited knowledge of anemia and its sources (p = 0.000). A significant proportion (83.3%) of anemic women rarely consumed iron-rich foods such as meat, beans, and green leafy vegetables. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified low household income (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.4–5.3; p = 0.003) and poor dietary intake (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.8–6.7; p < 0.001) as independent predictors of anemia after adjusting for age, parity, and gestational age. Conclusion: Anemia remains highly prevalent among pregnant women in this urban setting, primarily driven by low socioeconomic status, poor dietary diversity, and suboptimal nutritional practices. Strengthening antenatal care services with a focus on poverty alleviation, nutritional counseling, early antenatal care initiation, and enhanced iron and folic acid supplementation adherence is critical to reducing anemia burden and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.The study highlights a high burden of anemia among pregnant women in Meerut City, with nutritional inadequacy and economic deprivation being the major contributing factors. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated antenatal interventions focusing on improving maternal nutrition, dietary counselling, and addressing underlying socioeconomic inequalities. Strengthening existing national programs such as Anemia Mukt Bharat with local-level nutritional surveillance and community-based education can play a pivotal role in reducing the anemia burden among pregnant women in urban India. Keywords: Maternal anemia, Nutritional status, Socioeconomic status, Dietary diversity, Iron intake, Maternal health, Urban population in India, North India