Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anaemia Among Pregnant Women in Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia during pregnancy is an important factor to maternal mortality, morbidity and poor foetal outcomes. It remains one of the utmost unresolved public health problems in developing countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anaemia among pregnant women in the public health facilities of Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 284 pregnant women using systematic random sampling from 1 to 30 April 2019. Face-to-face interviews and chart reviews were used to collect the data. Data entry was done using Epi Data 3.1, and data were exported to SPSS 24 for analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors at 95% CI.

Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia was found to be 75 (26.4%), among which 45 (60%), 28 (37.3%) and two (2.7%) were mild, moderate, and severe anaemia respectively. The factors associated with anaemia included maternal education (unable to write and read) (AOR = 5.1; 95% CI-1.3, 20.6), the lack of information about it (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI-1.2, 7.0), short birth interval (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI-1.1, 6.5), having history of heavy menstrual bleeding before the current pregnancy (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI-1.3, 14.0), did not eat food of an animal origin within a week (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI - 1.2, 8.9) and meal frequency of less than three times per day (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI - 1.2, 6.8).

Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that anaemia is an unresolved public health problem in the study area. Pre-pregnancy counselling, dietary advice, and iron supplementation are recommended to avert anaemia during pregnancy.