According to WHO, a pregnant woman is considered anemic if her hemoglobin (Hb) level is less than what?

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2020

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes the standard cutoff for diagnosing anemia during pregnancy.
This threshold is set at a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 11 g/dL.
This value accounts for the physiological hemodilution of pregnancy, where the plasma volume increases more than the red blood cell mass, leading to a lower hemoglobin concentration.
Using this cutoff helps in early detection and management to prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Option A: A hemoglobin level of 13 g% is the lower limit of the normal range for adult males, not pregnant females.
Option B: A hemoglobin level of 12 g% is the standard lower limit of normal for a non-pregnant adult female. During pregnancy, the threshold is lower.
Option D: A hemoglobin level of 10 g% is significantly below the initial diagnostic threshold and would be classified as moderate anemia in a pregnant woman, not the point at which anemia is first defined.

Visual 1: Chart: A visual chart illustrating the WHO hemoglobin cutoffs for diagnosing anemia. It should show different levels for non-pregnant women, pregnant women (by trimester), and men, as well as the classifications for mild, moderate, and severe anemia.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO criteria for anemia in pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must screen all pregnant women for anemia at their first antenatal visit and again around 28 weeks of gestation, as it is a high-risk condition.
Patient education is crucial. Nurses should counsel pregnant women on consuming iron-rich foods (like green leafy vegetables, meat, legumes), the importance of taking prescribed iron and folic acid supplements, and how to enhance iron absorption with Vitamin C.
Untreated anemia in pregnancy can lead to complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage and maternal mortality.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key components of the question: 'WHO', 'pregnant woman', 'anemic', and 'hemoglobin level'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of specific clinical guidelines.
Recall or look up the standard WHO definition for anemia in pregnancy.
Compare the standard value with the given options.
Eliminate options that are known cutoffs for other populations (e.g., non-pregnant women, men).
Select the option that matches the WHO guideline for pregnancy.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: WHO criteria for anemia in pregnancy
Stem keywords: WHO, pregnant woman, anemic, hemoglobin (Hb) level
Lead-in keywords: less than
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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