Prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in the Uthungulu health district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

BackgroundAn estimated 30% of the world's population is affected with anaemia. Anaemia in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal deaths in developing countries. In developing countries, anaemia affects almost two thirds of the pregnant population. It is also estimated that anaemia is responsible for as much as 20% of all maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal anaemia is a risk factor for infant iron deficiency anaemia and, if left uncorrected, can be associated with adverse behavioural and cognitive development in children. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy is estimated at between 35% and 75% in sub-Saharan Africa, however, the area-specific health problems during pregnancy are not known. In order to improve maternal health and the health of the foetus during pregnancy, knowledge of the prevalence or incidence of pregnancy-related conditions would be useful for district management teams, as well as for provincial and national maternal, child and women's health programme development. The objectives of this study were to describe haemoglobin levels and estimate the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women at their booking visit.

Socio‐economic and dietary diversity characteristics are associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in public health centers of Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…About 97% of the pregnant women who visited the health centers previously were iron folic acid supplemented. The variables such as gestational age, antenatal care visit, birth interval, and family size were not statistically significant; however, many other studies demonstrated their association with anemia (Haidar, 2010; Hailu, 2014; Hoque, Kader, & Hoque, 2007; Kefiyalew et al, 2014).…”

Prevalence of Anaemia among Pregnant Women at Booking in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

“…Information on the prevalence would also be useful for the managers of health institutions and for district, provincial, and national maternal, child, and women's health programme development [11, 12]. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of anaemia and the red cell morphological pattern among pregnant women at the booking clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo.…”

Risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Implication for health education and health promotion

“…However, a high rate of anaemia in pregnancy in the rural population of KZN (30% according to national and 57% according to the WHO definition of anaemia in pregnancy) was observed. 20 Few studies have comprehensively assessed the aetiological factors responsible for anaemia in pregnancy in SA, more especially in rural settings. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is believed that deficiency of iron (nutritional deficiency) during pregnancy is the leading cause of anaemia.…”