12Nov 2022

To find association of Socio-Demographic factors of pregnant women with Hypocalcaemia

  • SMS Medical College, Jaipur.

During pregnancy calcium demand increases due to increase requirement by the developing foetus. This demand is met by dietary calcium intake. Physiological changes in pregnancy tend to lower calcium and calcium homeostasis is maintained by various hormones. The present study was done to find association of sociodemographic factors of the pregnant women with hypocalcaemia. Material and methods: 100 women in their third trimester of pregnancy were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent. After detail history and examination, 5 ml venous blood is collected to measure serum ionic calcium. Data were entered in to MS Excel sheet and analysed. Results: Normal serum ionic calcium range is 4.2 – 5.5 mg%. Out of 100 women 36% women had hypocalcaemia. There was no significant association between hypocalcaemia and age (p=0.8), residence (p=0.6), religion (p=0.1), socio-economic status (p=0.8). There was significant association between hypocalcaemia and literacy status (p-0.02). Women with past history of preterm birth and abortion had more risk of having hypocalcaemia. There was a negative correlation between maternal age and mean serum ionic calcium level. Conclusion: Hypocalcaemia is common in pregnancy. Hypocalcaemia was more common in women who were above 25 years of age, muslim, illiterate, belonging to lower and middle socio-economic status and multiparous. Risk of hypocalcaemia was more in women with gestational age below 34 weeks. All women in their antenatal period should be screened for hypocalcaemia and calcium should be supplemented routinely to all women during antenatal period.


Dr Saloni Sethi, Dr Aditi Arora, Dr Vikash Kumari Kasana, Dr Premlata Mital , Dr Ishita Agarwal, Dr Isha Ramneek and Dr Sakshi Bansal
SMS Medical College, Jaipur.

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