Anemia and Associated Factors among Iron-Folic Acid Supplements User and Non-user Pregnant Women at Debark General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Anemia is one of the most serious medical disorders that can affect pregnant women and raises the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and fetal abnormalities. Currently, most women visiting antenatal care clinics are receiving iron-folic acid supplements. However, a significant number of pregnant women may not receive it due to several factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of anemia and its associated factors in iron-folic acid supplements user and non-user pregnant women in Debark General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 391 pregnant women who visited Debark General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia from March to April 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, assessment of food consumption score, nutritional status, and hemoglobin determinations using a structured questionnaire.  Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 23 statistical software for statistical analysis. The factors related to anemia were identified using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: The magnitude of anemia was 20.8 % (95% CI; 15.8, 26.2) among iron-folic acid supplement users, and 46.6% (95% CI; 38.2- 55.0) among iron-folic acid supplement non-users who were anemic. Pregnant women who had no iron-folic acid supplements (IFAS) adherence with antenatal care follow-up (AOR=3.85, 95% CI: 1.29-11.43), meal frequency ≤ 2 times per day (AOR= 3.55, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.71) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of mothers of < 23 centimeters (AOR=4.19, 95% CI: 2.0, 8.78) were factors associated with anemia among iron-folic acid supplement users. On the other hand, pregnant women with low dietary diversity (AOR=3.47, 95% CI: 1.46-8.21), Middle upper arm circumstance of mothers of < 23 centimeters (AOR=3.65, 95% CI: 1.12, 11.9) were significantly associated with anemia among IFAS non-users.

Conclusions: Anemia was a major health problem among both iron-folic acid supplement users and non-user pregnant women in the study area. Therefore, there should be routine screening for anemia for all iron-folic acid supplement users and non-user pregnant women by considering meal frequency, iron-folic acid supplement adherence, and food consumption for early diagnosis and management.

Keywords:Anemia, Associated factors, Folate, Iron, Pregnant women