HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN ANEMIC PREGNANCY IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common and endemic human infections worldwide, causing a number of very common and important gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcer, iron deficiency anemia and chronic gastritis. In general infecting almost half of the people in developed countries and 80% of people in developing countries. Objective: to identify the association between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study done at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of three hospitals in Baghdad city, during the period from the first of January to 30th of September 2017. The study included 400 anemic pregnant women selected randomly and all subjects were analyzed in full details and hemoglobin estimation done during the 1st visit, and h.pylori test. Result: study sample divided into (51.8%) as a mild anemia, (33.8%) as a moderate anemia and severe anemia as 58(14.5%). The rate of a positive test among pregnant women who?s had an infection by h. pyloriwere 63% which is higher than those women with the negative test as 37% with a significant association were found between h. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia (p=0.001). Also The rate of positive h.pylori infected among pregnant women those were live in urban area was 37% which is higher than those living in rural 16% and the rate of pregnant women that have gastric discomfort more among those women with positive h.pylori infected were 35% but the women with negative h.pylori infected 30% .but without any significant association of residency and gastric discomfort with h.pylori infected. Conclusion:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection inpregnancy is more associated with iron deficiency anemia.