Anemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of pregnant women and increases the risks of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Approximately 50% of all anemia is estimated to be caused by low dietary intake of iron, poor absorption of dietary iron, or blood loss. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of and assess the dietary habits associated with anemia in pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) in Unguja Island, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted to select 338 pregnant women at Kivunge, Mwembeladu, and Mnazimmoja hospitals from March to June 2018. Hemoglobin concentration was measured using a HemoCue photometer on capillary blood. Sociodemographic data and dietary habits were collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the predictors of anemia in pregnant women. The overall prevalence of anemia was 80.8%. Of these 68.64% had mild anemia, 11.24% had moderate anemia, and 0.89% had severe anemia. Anemia was significantly associated with inadequate dietary diversity [adjusted OR (AOR): 1.16; 95% CI: 0.57, 2.36; P < 0.05], drinking tea or coffee with a meal (AOR: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.13; P < 0.001), consuming <3 meals/d (AOR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.60, 5.84; P < 0.001), higher education level (AOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.6, 7.2; P < 0.0001), birth interval <2 y (AOR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 11.9; P < 0.05), and multigravida status (AOR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.3, 4.4; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of anemia in this study demonstrates a severe public health problem among pregnant women. Inadequate dietary diversity coupled with inadequate daily meal intake and consumption of tea or coffee were the dietary habits predicting anemia in pregnant women. Other predictors of anemia were higher education level, multigravida status, and birth interval <2 y. Nutrition policy interventions are needed to complement ANC services by providing important information on healthy eating habits during pregnancy.

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy remains a major health problem with adverse maternal and fetal outcome worldwide, especially in developing countries such as Tanzania. The study aimed to establish prevalence and obstetric factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care visits in Unguja Island, Tanzania.Methods: This cross sectional survey used systemic random sampling in three hospitals of Unguja Island to select 388 pregnant women. Demographic and obstetric characteristics of respondents were collected using a structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin levels were measured by using Hemocue machine. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out in SPSS version 21.0 to measure obstetric factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women.Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 80.8%, whereby 68.64% of respondents had mild anaemia, 11.24% had moderate anaemia and 0.89% had severe anaemia. The factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy were gravidity, (AOR= 1.185, 95% CI=0.317-4.338, p<0.001), irregular taking of iron tablets (AOR=0.288, 95% CI=0.149-0.556, p<0.001) and age of the child <2 years, (AOR 3.635, 95% CI= 1.103-11.882, p<0.034).Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in Unguja is high. Timely and regular intake of iron tablets during pregnancy, child spacing as well as having children within the capacity of parents to raise them up may significantly reduce the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy. Therefore health education on family planning and the importance of taking of iron tablet is critical.

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