OBJECTIVE:

To describe and compare the obstetric characteristics of postpartum patients with anemia, with termination of pregnancy by delivery or cesarean section.

MATERIALS

AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive and comparative study of patients with anemia in the postpartum period after childbirth and cesarean section attended at the Lircay Hospital in Huancavelica in 2020. The documentary analysis technique was applied and the instrument was a data collection form.

RESULTS:

A total of 162 deliveries and 46 cesarean sections were analyzed. In the pathological characteristics a significant difference was found: anemia in pregnancy (112 of 162; 69.1% postpartum and 23 of 46 [50% post cesarean]), hypertensive disorders (4 of 162; 2.5% postpartum and 8 of 46 [7.4% post cesarean]), hemorrhages in the second half of pregnancy (2 of 162 [1.2% postpartum] and 4 of 46 [8.7% post cesarean]). Regarding the degree of anemia, a significant difference was found in both groups in relation to moderate degree (89 of 162 [54.9%] postpartum and 33 of 46 [71.7%] postcesarean section).

CONCLUSIONS:

In the frequency of puerperal anemia, a difference was found according to the type of termination of pregnancy. Age, level of education, gestational anemia, hypertensive disorder, hemorrhage in the second half of pregnancy and placenta previa were identified as factors with significant differences in anemia, according to the type of termination of pregnancy.