Abstract:
Background: Anemia is responsible for 20% of maternal mortality worldwide, and it is associated with
premature birth, low birth weight and infant mortality. In Africa, 57.1% of the pregnant women were
anemic Moreover, anemia in pregnant women is a severe public health problem in Ethiopia, 62.7% of
pregnant women were anemic in southern nation nationality and people’s region (SNNPR), and 22.5% of
pregnant women are anemic. However, in study area there are few studies on the determinants of anemia
and its associated factors therefore, this study aimed to investigate the determinant factors of anemia
among pregnant women in the study area.
OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of anemia among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in
public health facilities in kachabirra woreda.
Methods: An institutional based un- matched case- control study was conducted among 117 cases and
227, controls in KachaBirra Woreda, Southern Ethiopia from February to May 2019. Data were collected
By using interviewer administered questionnaires. Controls were pregnant women whose hemoglobin
level 11 g/dl and above at their first antenatal care clinics and cases were pregnant women whose
hemoglobin level less than 11 g/dl. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to find
predictors of anemia. Statically significant predictors of anemia were identified at p-value<0.05 and 95%
confidence interval Results: A total of 344 respondents (117 cases and 227controls) participated in this
study with 100% response rate. The major predicting variables for occurrence of anemia among pregnant
Women were Rural residency [AOR= 2.9,95% CI:0.002-0.057] previous heavy menstrual blood flow
[AOR=2.753, 95% CI: 2.66-28.529], Age of mother [AOR=4.013, 95%CI: 1.081-904], parasitic
infection [AOR=6.395, 95% CI: 1.226 - 33.362],food taboo(aversion) [AOR= 3.916, CI: 95% 2.085-
7.356],consuming tea/coffee immediately after meal [AOR=18.495, 95% CI:6.891-40.639] were
significant factors associated with anemia.
Conclusion: Residence, previous heavy menstrual flow, age, parasitic infection, food taboo,
tea/coffee consumption immediately after meal was significant factors associated with anemia
among pregnant women. Therefore, anemia prevention strategy should include promotion of
counseling on consumption of diversified and iron-enriched foods during pregnancy, prevention
of parasitic infection as well as mass de- worming, awareness creation on cultural norms that
makes food aversion during pregnancy.
