Abstract:
Background: Anemia is the reduction in red cell mass and /or hemoglobin, resulting in the
body’s inability to maintain the oxygen requirements which results in tissue hypoxia. Among
the causes of anemia iron deficiency has a significant influence on cognitive development,
intelligence, and developmental delay. Anemia is multi factorial and also associated with an
increased risk of depression and other psychiatric disorders.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among adult
psychiatric patients in Jimma Medical Center Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult psychiatric
patients who were on continuous follow up from April 10 -June 10, 2018, at psychiatric clinic
in Jimma. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data and nutritional habit, were
collected using a structured questionnaire based interview. Four (4) milliliter of EDTA anti
coagulated venous blood was collected and analyzed for CBC by HUMACOUNT® 30TS
(Wiesbaden Germany) and stool specimen was collected and examined for intestinal parasites.
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Both bivariate and multi variate was performed. A
p-value <0.05 was considered as statically significant.
Result: -A total of 396 study participants were involved in the study. The overall prevalence of
anemia among adult psychiatric patients was 11.9 % (47/396). The mean age of the study
participants was 30.57 +7.03 years and the mean hemoglobin level was15.15 +1.94 g/dl. The
frequency of anemia was higher among female 13.5% (n=15), patients with bi polar disorder
(13.8%), illiterate 14.2 %( n=23), un employed 13.2 %( n=32), rural residence is 14 % (
n=33). Having intestinal parasite (p<0.001, AOR=6.535(3.193-13.373) and not eating green
vegetable regularly (p=0.023, AOR=2.195, 95%CI (1.113-3.331) were significantly associated
with anemia.
Conclusion and Recommendations:- The overall prevalence of anemia among adult
psychiatric patients was 11.9 % (47/396) which is found according to WHO (2011)
classifications of public health significance of anemia between (5.0-19.9%) indicated that mild.
Having intestinal parasite (p<0.001, AOR=6.535(3.193-13.373) and not eating green
vegetable regularly (p=0.023, AOR=2.195, 95%CI (1.113-3.331) were significantly associated
with anemia.
