ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS FOR ANEMIA AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS ATTENDING JUSH ANC CLINIC: INSTITUTIONAL BASED CASE CONTROL STUDY, JIMMA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Anemia refers to a condition in which the hemoglobin content of the blood is lower than normal as a result of a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients, heavy blood loss, parasitic infections such as hookworm infestations, acute and chronic infections, and congenital hemolytic diseases. Anaemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem in developing countries. It is associated with an increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The control of anaemia in women of childbearing age is essential to prevent low birth weight and perinatal and maternal mortality. In order to design an intervention for treatment and prevention of anaemia in pregnancy, a study assessing risk factors for anemia has paramount importance. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess risk factors of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH), South-west Ethiopia. Methods: A case control study was carried out among pregnant women who came for routine antenatal care follow up for booking visit to Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma town, southwestern Ethiopia from February 25 to April 10, 2011. A total of 234 pregnant women, 117 cases and 117 controls who came for booking visit were enrolled in this study using purposive sampling method to avoid information bias obtained from repeated ANC client that they might obtained from health professionals counseling and education. Result: A total of 234 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in JUSH for booking visit were included in the study, i.e.117 cases and 117 controls. The mean age of cases and controls were 24.37 (+4.21SD) and 23.7 (+3.94SD) years respectively. The risk factors for anaemia were birth interval from index pregnancy <2years (OR=9.6, 95%CI 3.67 – 13.17), history of excess menses prior to index pregnancy (OR= 9.7, 95%CI 2.51 – 12.46), lack of regular shoe wearing habit (OR= 2.2, 95%CI 1.43 – 5.13), Hookworm infection (OR=2.1 95%CI 1.02 – 4.22), and habit of drinking coffee/tea on daily basis compared to those never drink (OR=7.4 95%CI 2.17 – 14.05). Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of anemia was high in those who were hook worm infected, lack of regular shoe wearing habit, had excess menstrual bleeding before the index pregnancy and those who had less than two years birth intervals between the current pregnancies and the last child they bear and those who had coffee/tea drinking habit immediately after meal daily. Intake of animal foods, vegetables, fruits and other enhancers of non-hem iron absorption among cases and controls were low. Practice of additional meal during pregnancy was also low. To reduce anemia in pregnancy, in conjunction with other strategies, due emphasis should be given in improving the knowledge and practice of pregnant mothers on prevention of infection like hookworm, family planning and birth spacing, and improved feeding habit.