Abstract:
Background: Anemia is a global public health problem and common in diabetic patients. It is
potentially contributing to pathogenesis and progression of many diabetes complications mainly
cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Anemia in diabetic patients is
unrecognized and untreated particularly in Ethiopia.
Objective: This study was aimed to determine prevalence of anemia and associated factors in
diabetic patients attending chronic care center in Jimma University specialized hospital,
Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: An institution -based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 20 to May 30,
2014. A total of two hundred and sixty (260) diabetic patients were involved in the study. Four (4)
ml of venous blood was collected from each diabetic patient for hematology and chemistry
analysis. Blood film was prepared and examined for peripheral blood morphology and
hemoparasites particularly; malarial. Stool sample was also screened for presence of intestinal
parasite. Data were analyzed with statistical package software for social scientist (SPSS, version
20, IBM Inc Chicago).Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were carried out to compute
the different rate, proportion and relevant association. Variables with P-value <0.05 were
considered as statistically significant.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of anemia in the study was 23.1%. Among anemic diabetic
patients mild and moderate anemia accounted for 96.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Majority
(86.7%) of the anemic diabetic patients had normocytic-normochromic anemia. Having
complication (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.09, 4.23), being illiterate (AOR=4.19, 95% CI =1.61,
10.88) and uncontrolled hyperglycemia (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.05, 4.18) were identified as
associated factors of anemia.
Conclusion: This study showed that anemia is moderate public health problem in diabetic
patients in the study area. Therefore screening for anemia should be part of their routine
management.
