Maternal health: anaemia in pregnancy: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Maternal health: anaemia in pregnancy

Sample item

A 24-year-old woman at 24 weeks of gestation has a haemoglobin of 8.2 g/dL, with no signs of heart failure and no bleeding. According to national grading, how is her anaemia classified, and how is it managed?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Moderate anaemia, treated with a therapeutic oral iron-folic acid regimen and follow-up

In the national classification for pregnancy, haemoglobin of 10 to 10.9 g/dL is mild, 7 to 9.9 g/dL moderate and below 7 g/dL severe. Her value of 8.2 is moderate, and she should receive a therapeutic oral dose of iron-folic acid, with a check of response and consideration of parenteral iron if oral therapy fails. Transfusion is reserved for severe anaemia close to term or with decompensation.

Option by option

  • A. Physiological haemodilution needing no treatment

    Haemodilution lowers haemoglobin only modestly; a value of 8.2 g/dL is well below the anaemia threshold of about 11 g/dL and needs treatment.

  • B. Mild anaemia, continuing the usual prophylactic tablet

    Mild anaemia is 10 to 10.9 g/dL, and her value is below this range.

  • C. Moderate anaemia, treated with a therapeutic oral iron-folic acid regimen and follow-up (correct)

    Correct. A haemoglobin of 8.2 g/dL falls in the moderate range of 7 to 9.9 g/dL.

  • D. Severe anaemia needing immediate blood transfusion

    Severe anaemia is below 7 g/dL, and she is stable, so transfusion is not indicated.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Moderate anaemia, treated with a therapeutic oral iron-folic acid regimen and follow-up. In the national classification for pregnancy, haemoglobin of 10 to 10.

Why is "Physiological haemodilution needing no treatment" not the answer?

Haemodilution lowers haemoglobin only modestly; a value of 8.2 g/dL is well below the anaemia threshold of about 11 g/dL and needs treatment.

Why is "Mild anaemia, continuing the usual prophylactic tablet" not the answer?

Mild anaemia is 10 to 10.9 g/dL, and her value is below this range.

Why is "Severe anaemia needing immediate blood transfusion" not the answer?

Severe anaemia is below 7 g/dL, and she is stable, so transfusion is not indicated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal health: anaemia in pregnancy in PSM. 9 g/dL is mild, 7 to 9.9 g/dL moderate and below 7 g/dL severe. Her value of 8.2 is moderate, and she should receive a therapeutic oral dose of iron-folic acid, with a check of response and consideration of parenteral iron if oral therapy fails. Transfusion is reserved for severe anaemia close to term or with decompensation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal health: anaemia in pregnancy?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.