Abstract:
Background: Anemia is a major public health problem among pregnant women in developing
countries like Ethiopia. Nutritional deficiency related anemia is an important contributor to
maternal mortality and poor fetal outcomes. This indicates urgent enhancements in dietary
diversity and control of infectious diseases. Even if, limited studies were conducted in different
parts of the country to assess dietary diversity and its association with anemia among pregnant
women, the issue is not studied in Hossana town and Hadiya zone. Therefore, this study aims to
assess prevalence of anemia and its association with dietary diversity score among pregnant
women in public health facilities of Hossana town, South Ethiopia.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in
Hossana town from March 15 to April 30, 2017. Systematic random sampling procedure was
employed to select 314 study subjects. Data were collected using an interviewer administered
pretested semi structured questionnaire supplemented by laboratory tests and analyzed using
SPSS for window version 20. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were
done to isolate independent predictors of anemia. Result: out of the total of 314 participants the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was
24.2%, from this mild, moderate and severe anemia accounts for 43(56.6%), 31(40.8%) and
2(2.6%) respectively. The mean dietary diversity and food variety score of study participants
were 7 and 22 respectively. The educational status of mother (AOR=10.5; 95% CI: 2.2, 57),
occupation of spouse (AOR=9.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 53), nutrition during pregnancy (AOR=2.5; 95%
CI: 1.5, 6.4) and women minimum dietary diversity score (AOR=18.6; 95% CI: 4.4, 78) were
identified as factors associated with anemia among pregnant women.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Anemia is found to be a moderate public health problem in
this study. Women education, occupation of spouse, nutrition during pregnancy and minimum
dietary diversity score were significantly and independently associated with anemia among
pregnant women. Empower women education and occupations of spouse, promotion awareness
of healthy diets were recommended for reducing prevalence of anemia in the study area.
