Original Research
Prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria
Submitted: 22 June 2011 | Published: 04 June 2012
About the author(s)
Geraldine U. Ndukwu, Department of Family Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, NigeriaPaul O. Dienye, Department of Family Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of anaemia and sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a primary health centre. Association between variables was analysed using the Chi-square test.
Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women whose ages ranged from 16 to 40 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 4.3 years were recruited for the study. The haemoglobin concentration ranged from 6 g/dL – 15 g/dL with a mean of 10.10 ± 1.27g/dL. A total of 142 (62.6%) participants were anaemic. Anaemia was observed to be least prevalent in women within the extremes of reproductive age (≤ 20 years and 36–40 years). There was no statistically significant association between age, educational level and marital status (p > 0.05). The association of anaemia with social class was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Severe anaemia was not a common finding amongst the patients but it was significantly associated with educational status (p = 0.02) and socio-economic status (p = 0.03).
Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia amongst the pregnant participants in the primary health centre was high. Out of all the socio-demographic characteristics, only socio-economic status was significantly associated with anaemia. It is recommended that the socio-economic status of women should be enhanced in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent anaemia and to enhance pregnancy outcomes.
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Crossref Citations
1. Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women in Sana’a, Yemen
Samah Al-Aini, C. Prathapa Senan, Meram Azzani
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences first page: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.25259/IJMS_5_2020