Magnitude and Factors Associated with Immediate Postpartum Anemia among Singleton postpartum women at Public Hospitals in Dire Dawa Administration, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Anemia is the decrease ability of red blood cells to provide adequate oxygen to body tissue. Postpartum period is a critical time where most maternal complications including death occurs and immediate postpartum anemia is one of the risk factors. But it lacks studies both at national level and study area too. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess magnitude and factors associated with immediate postpartum anemia at public hospitals in Dire Dawa administration, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on May 2022 among 476 study participants selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interview by pre-tested structured questionnaire and medical card review. The data were entered in to EPI DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22) software. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, odds ratios with 95% CI also was carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable. A P-value (< 0.25 at bivariate and < 0.05 at multivariable) was considered as statistical significance. Results: A total of 476 postpartum women were included in the study and the overall magnitude of immediate postpartum anemia was 26.9% (95% CI: 22.9-31.1%). Immediate postpartum anemia was significantly associated with no formal education (AOR=3.01, 95%CI: 1.12-8.08), unemployment (AOR= 2.72, 95%CI:1.02-7.21), < 4 ANC visits (AOR=2.40,95%CI: 1.32-4.30), instrumental assisted vaginal delivery(IAVD) (AOR=3.70,95%CI: 1.952-6.86), pre-delivery anemia (AOR=2.96,95%CI: 1.48-5.91), GIT parasites (AOR=3.23,95%CI: 1.37-7.59), low dietary diversity (AOR=3.10,95%CI:1.65-5.79) and no IFA supplementation (AOR=2.69,95%CI:1.10-6.58) during pregnancy. Conclusion: Immediate postpartum anemia is a high public health problem comparing to other previous studies in Ethiopia. Coordinated efforts in promoting antenatal care visits and awareness about risk factors of immediate postpartum anemia were recommended to studied hospitals and other stalk holders.