Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors Among Term Newborns in Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Anemia is a global public health problem that affects approximately one-third of the global population. Infants and children are the ones to develop both short-term and long-term devastating complications from anemia. Although anemia is a very big public health concern, newborns, especially in developing countries, are usually overlooked and undiagnosed. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among term newborns in Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Western Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 278 newborns was conducted from October to November, 2020 with an interview-based questionnaire that included maternal socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics, newborn’s weight and sex. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 20. The prevalence of newborn anemia was shown in percentage and as a pie-chart. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify the predictors of anemia in the term newborn. Results The overall prevalence of newborn anemia in the hospital was 29.1%. Maternal anemia (AOR: 3.95, 95% C.I.: 1.97–7.92), delivery by cesarean section (AOR: 4.17, 95% C.I.: 1.89–9.20), vaginal bleeding during pregnancy (AOR: 5.43, 95% C.I.: 1.60–18.39), and maternal failure to take iron-folate supplements during pregnancy (AOR: 2.17, 95% C.I.:1.07–4.41) were factors associated with newborn anemia. Conclusion Anemia among newborns in the hospital was a moderate public health problem. Policy makers should consider maternal health education and appropriate health interventions to reduce the problem. In addition, further longitudinal studies are needed to identify specific causes of newborn anemia in order to prevent the possible complications.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Newborn Anemia in Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…For every 1-point increase in maternal hemoglobin, there was a corresponding 0.14-point increase in umbilical cord hemoglobin. The finding of a positive correlation between maternal and umbilical cord hemoglobin in this study is similar to other studies in Nepal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Israel, India, and Iran [ 22 – 25 ]. Since the fetus obtains iron from maternal transferrin, when maternal iron stores are depleted, the fetus cannot accumulate as much iron, resulting in a decrease in fetal iron stores and reduced fetal hemoglobin levels [ 10 , 26 – 29 ].…”

High Magnitude of Neonatal Anemia Among Sick Newborns Admitted to University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Most of the above studies did not assess important risk factors for neonatal anemia like maternal and obstetric conditions (APH, multiple pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria), 9 , 22 and used the cord blood for hemoglobin value, unlike the current study. In all the studies done in Ethiopia, only term neonates were included 9 , 22 , 23 whereas only preterms were included in Bosnia. 13 None of the studies included the entire neonatal period, which could affect the prevalence of anemia in the newborn due to physiological reduction of hemoglobin in the postnatal life.…”

“…The risk factors for neonatal anemia also vary depending on the settings. 7–9 , 13 , 15 , 21 In previous studies, contributing factors for neonatal anemia included maternal anemia, 7 , 8 , 22 maternal malaria attack during pregnancy, 7 , 21 maternal antepartum hemorrhage (APH), 7 , 23 lack of iron-folate supplements during pregnancy, 23 maternal vegetable consumption habit, 9 septicemia in the newborn, 7 , 16 prematurity 13 and other neonatal problems including external blood loss. 15 , 16…”

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia among Newborns at Jimma Medical Center, South-west Ethiopia

“…Furthermore, those studies found that anemia in the mother, mothers' age, preterm birth, her habit of consuming vegetables, cesarean delivery, occupation, parasitic infection, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and her failure to take iron/folate supplements during her pregnancy were all associated with newborn anemia. [10][11][12] In a newborn, anemia is a common and complex problem owing to the unique blood picture because of variations in hematological profiles. 13 It may result in an acute, severe, or asymptomatic life-threatening event.…”