Impact of pharmacist-monitored patient education in pregnant women with anemia: a knowledge, attitude and practice study

Samiksha Mestha; Nihara Mahesh K.; Swasthik Raj Kote; Thanshifa Fathima; Thejaswini B.; Ramakrishna Shabaraya A.

doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20263433

Authors

Samiksha Mestha Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Nihara Mahesh K. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Swasthik Raj Kote Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Thanshifa Fathima Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Thejaswini B. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Ramakrishna Shabaraya A. Department of Pharmaceutics, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Valachil. Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20263433

Keywords:

Anemia, Anemia Mukt Bharat, Antenatal care, Maternal education, Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Anemia during pregnancy, defined as hemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL, affects nearly 37% of pregnant women globally and 52.2% in India. Pharmacists are well positioned to provide education, though evidence for the impact of pharmacist-led interventions on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding anemia is limited. This study evaluated the impact of pharmacist-monitored patient education on KAP in pregnant women with anemia.

Methods: This six-month prospective interventional study (Jan-2025 to June-2025) was conducted among 130 pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Data were collected during routine antenatal visits using a validated structured questionnaire in English and Kannada. Following initial KAP assessment, participants received pharmacist-led counselling and educational informational leaflet. KAP was reassessed after 1.5 months using the same questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS, with one-way ANOVA and paired t-tests. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Most participants were aged 26-35 years (65.38%), rural residents (62.30%) with high school education (61.54%) and no prior anemia history (80%); most were unemployed (83.84%), multigravida (59.24%), in their third trimester (63.14%), and continued their usual diet (84.62%). Knowledge (1.92±2.70 to 5.16±3.61) and attitude (14.67±2.53 to 15.91±2.48) scores increased significantly (p<0.00001, p=0.00096), while practice scores changed minimally (2.72±0.59 to 2.76±0.58; p=0.08326) post intervention. Knowledge was associated with education (p=0.0406); attitude with age, residence, and parity (p<0.05); and practice with age (p=0.0199). Anemia Mukt Bharat awareness rose from 10% to 60%.

Conclusions: Pharmacist-monitored education significantly improved knowledge and attitude towards anemia in pregnancy, though practice change was limited. Integrating pharmacist-led counselling into antenatal care may support sustained behavioural change and anemia prevention.

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