Prevalence and determinants of anaemia in pregnant women receiving antenatal care at a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundAnaemia during pregnancy is a major public health problem in developing countries. It is important to regularly monitor haemoglobin level in pregnancy and factors associated with it to inform clinical and preventive services. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of anaemia in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) of a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Ghana.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional study involving 400 pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Tamale Teaching Hospital was conducted. Using a semi-structured questionnaire and 24-h dietary recall, data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, health practices, dietary diversity, anaemia knowledge and haemoglobin level of the women. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin concentration less than 11 g/dl. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent determinants of pregnancy anaemia.ResultsThe mean age and haemoglobin of the women were 28.3 (±4.5) years and 10.81 (±1.41) g/dl respectively. About half of the women 50.8% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 45.8–55.7] were anaemic and the prevalence of anaemia increased with pregnancy trimester. Among a host of socio-demographic, dietary, and preventive health service factors evaluated, the women’s knowledge on anaemia and pregnancy trimester at interview were the independent determinants of anaemia in pregnancy. Compared to women of the highest anaemia knowledge tertile, women belonging to the lowest (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.50–4.61) and middle (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.12–3.27) anaemia knowledge tertiles were about 3 and 2 times more likely to be anaemic respectively. Similarly, women in third trimester of pregnancy were about 4 times more likely to be anaemic compared to those in first trimester at the time of interview (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.91–6.67).ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of anaemia, which increases with pregnancy trimester, in pregnant women attending ANC in a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Ghana. The women’s knowledge on anaemia and pregnancy trimester at the time of interview are associated with their anaemia status. The high prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy needs urgent intervention to prevent the occurrence of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Education on anaemia should be intensified at ANCs.

Dietary Habits Associated with Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Services

“…Although craving of nonfood substances in pregnant women was not associated with anemia in this study, the proportion of women who reported this food habit was high compared with a study done in Kenya, which found only 19.8% of pregnant women reported such nonfood cravings ( 27 ). The finding of this study is consistent with a study conducted in the Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania ( 32 ) and in Ghana ( 40 ), in which 38% and 41.6% of pregnant women, respectively, had pica practices. None of these studies found an association between food craving habit and prevalence of anemia.…”

A multicenter study of the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and anemia among pregnant women at first antenatal care visit in Ghana

“…Our finding of a 42.4% prevalence of anemia among pregnant women is in keeping with the global estimate of more than 40% [10], the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in this study was 42.4%. This finding is similar to the 40.8-54.0% prevalence reported in Ghana [25,37,38], 40.0% in Ethiopia [39], 40.1% in Mali [35], 42.7% in South Africa [40] and 47.4% in Tanzania [41]. Importantly, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe anemia were 35.7%, 6.1% and 0.6%, respectively.…”

Prevalence of Anaemia Among Pregnant Women in Third Trimester and Its Effect on Pregnancy Outcome at Tertiary Level Teaching Hospital, Birgunj

“…The prevalence of anaemia as seen in this study was 30.66% it is an indication that anaemia during pregnancy is still a major problem. The prevalence was comparable with what was obtained in similar studies of Nepal (42.5%), 12 Haryana (51%) 5 .The study findings are however in contrast to reports from other countries, 66% in Burkina Faso Meda et al, 13 50.8% in Anthony Wemakor et al(Ghana), 14 Jharkhand (76%). 15 It is suggested that the variations may be attributed to different causes of anaemia and dietary differences, population differences, study design and difference in methodology used in determining haemoglobin levels.…”