Abstract:
Background: Anemia affects the lives of more than 2 billion people globally, accounting for over 30%
of the world’s population which is the most common public health problem particularly in developing
countries. Most studies indicate prevalence of anemia vary in all age group in rural and urban areas. The
higher prevalence of anemia from rural areas is likely related to, inadequate diet; parasitic infestation,
economic factors and inaccessibility of health care centers.
Objective: To determine prevalence rate of anemia and associated factors among apparently healthy
urban and rural residents in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.
Methods and materials: This was a comparative cross-sectional study based on secondary data
collected from late September 2008 to the end of January 2009 in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center of
Jimma University. Sample size was determined using recommendations in the WHO-STEP wise
surveillance manual. Data were collected according to WHO-STEP wise approach in a community
setting. .Data on a total of 1602 was included in the analysis. Information on hemoglobin level and
independent variables were extracted accordingly. The participants’ were stratified by urban and rural
and frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables and proportions
for categorical variables of each stratum was computed. The prevalence rate of anemia was calculated for
both urban and rural. A logistic regression was used to identify independent determinants of anemia. A
P-value < 0.05 at 95 % CI was considered statistically significant.
Result: The overall prevalence of anemia was 40.9%. 20.1 % among urban and 46.6 % for rural
residents. In urban residents, sex (AOR=2.152, 95% CI=1.029-4.500) and educational status(
AOR=5.745 95% CI=1.266-26.071) were determinants of anemia and in rural residents’ sex
(AOR=1.788 ,95 %CI=1.267-2.522) , educational level (AOR=3.615 95% CI=1.565-8.351) heart disease
(AOR=2.628 ,95 % CI= 1.091-6.332) and presence of central obesity( AOR=1.832,95% CI=1.305-
2.572) were significantly associated with presence of anemia.
Conclusion: This study showed difference of anemia prevalence in urban and rural and also found a high
prevalence of anemia in both males and females, indicating that anemia was related to a wider population
than the traditional groups of females and implicit the importance of including all apparently healthy
individuals in addressing anemia.
