A Third of Pregnant Women are Affected by Anemia in Eastern Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Study

Although it is a public health problem of pregnant women in low, middle and high-income countries, the highest prevalence rate of anemia is found among pregnant women of low-income countries, particularly in Africa. Therefore, this study has aimed to determine the magnitude of the anemia and its associated factors among pregnant women admitted to labor wards of public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.

A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 pregnant women admitted to labor wards in four public hospitals of Harar town and Dire Dawa City Administration. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through an interview using a structured questionnaire. The hemoglobin level was measured for each study participant. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted and statistical significance was declared at P<0.05.

The magnitude of anemia was 33.1% (95% CI: 28.4%, 37.8%). Being from rural areas (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.81, 7.94), no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.34, 8.79), a habit of drinking milk with tea after meals (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.48, 5.61), taking a meal only 1-2 times per day (AOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.69, 8.97), experiencing no blood loss in the current pregnancy (AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.96) and a habit of eating leafy vegetables (AOR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.24) were significantly associated with anemia.

About one in three pregnant women were anemic and anemia was a moderate public health problem in the study settings. Interventions targeting reducing or preventing anemia should focus on pregnant women in rural areas, promoting the benefits of ANC follow-up, reducing the habit of drinking milk with tea after meals, enhancing the consumption of leafy vegetables and increasing meal frequency per day to minimize or prevent anemia and its consequences during pregnancy.