Prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among ever-married women in Jordan

Abstract

Background: Anaemia is associated with poor health outcomes and is considered a serious public health problem particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Specific subgroups are at higher risk of anaemia, such as women of reproductive age. Aims: This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among ever-married women in Jordan using a secondary analysis of the Jordan Population and Family Health Survey. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of ever-married women aged 15-49 years that were tested for haemoglobin levels in the 2012 JPFHS. Anaemia was categorized according to the WHO criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate risk factors associated with anaemia. Results: The prevalence of any anaemia was 37.3%; specifically, 20% had mild anaemia (haemoglobin 11.0-11.9 g/dl), 16.3% had moderate anaemia (hemoglobin 8.0-10.9 g/dl) and 1% had severe anaemia (haemoglobin < 8.0 g/dl). Factors that were associated with anaemia in the multivariate regression included urban women (P = 0.01), living in the north (P = 0.014) or south regions (P = 0.013) of Jordan, having multiple children (P < 0.001), being pregnant (P < 0.01), and using IUD as a contraceptive method (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A high prevalence of anaemia among ever-married women of reproductive age in Jordan was noticed. The results emphasize the importance of urgent public health interventions to prevent anaemia in Jordan, particularly among high-risk subgroups.

Anemia and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in eastern Africa: A multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear model

“…We also found that being pregnant was associated with a higher prevalence of anemia as compared with those who were not pregnant. This is in concordance with studies done in Jourdan [ 45 ], Democratic Republic of Congo [ 28 ], Rwanda [ 35 ], Ethiopia [ 30 ], and Uganda [ 21 , 60 ]. This is due to the fact that pregnant women have an increased demand for iron to sustain her baby's development.…”

“…Consistent with studies conducted elsewhere [ 21 , 28 – 39 , 45 – 49 , 59 ], in our study, being older age, having primary and above education, being from households with second to highest wealth quintiles, being currently working, not perceiving distance as not a big problem, use of modern contraceptive methods, and rural residence was associated with a lower prevalence of anemia. While, being married and divorced/separated/widowed, women from female-headed households, women from households with unimproved toilet facility and unimproved water source, ever had of a terminated pregnancy, having high parity, and from large household size was associated with a higher prevalence of anemia.…”

“…According to different studies done worldwide; age [ 27 , 28 ], educational level [ 29 – 31 ], occupation [ 32 , 33 ], marital status [ 20 , 34 , 35 ], wealth status [ 20 , 21 , 29 , 30 , 36 ], sex of household head [ 32 , 37 , 38 ], media exposure [ 39 – 41 ], body mass index [ 20 , 29 , 35 , 42 ], type of toilet facility and source of drinking water [ 21 , 29 ], ever had of terminated pregnancy [ 39 , 43 , 44 ], parity [ 36 , 45 ], household size [ 46 , 47 ], modern contraceptive use [ 20 , 48 ], current pregnancy status [ 21 , 28 , 30 , 35 , 45 ], currently breastfeeding [ 30 , 39 ], residence [ 49 ], and community literacy level [ 32 ] are associated with anemia in women of reproductive age.…”

The prevalence and influencing factors of anaemia among pre-pregnant women in mainland China: a large population-based, cross-sectional study

“…Our study found that the prevalence of mild anaemia was highest in the 20-24 age group, while the prevalence of moderate/severe anaemia was highest in the 45-49 age group. These findings were partially consistent with the study of Rasha (42) . Compared with previous studies, we also found that other demographic characteristics, such as ethnic origin, educational level and occupation, were associated with the prevalence of anaemia (26,37,38) .…”

Editorial

“…Supporting women's health continues to be of great importance when considering the more traditional roles that women as mothers and caregivers undertake in the Region, and maternal support in the relation with effective child development is the focus of research in the article "The effect of a maternal training programme on early childhood development in Egypt" (17), which examines positive correlations with effective maternal training and improved cognitive and behavioural development in children. Yet diet and maternal and reproductive health is an issue that can have consequences for family harmony, particularly among high-risk subgroups, and is the focus of the article "Prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among ever-married women in Jordan" (18), where the importance of nutrient fortification of essential foodstuffs, especially for women during their reproductive age, is examined.…”