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Cited by 31Iron Metabolism and DisordersPublic Health and NutritionChild Nutrition and Water Access

Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women attending reproductive and child health clinics in Mbeya region, Tanzania

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Abdallah, Fatma, John, Sauli E., Hancy, Adam, Paulo, Heavenlight A., Sanga, Abraham, Noor, Ramadhan, Lankoande, Fatoumata, Chimanya, Kudakwashe +2 more·2022·PLOS Global Public Health
DOI 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000280PMC PMC10021601
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Abstract

Anaemia is a global public health issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anaemia and to identify factors associated with the condition among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted with 420 pregnant women (<28 weeks of gestation) attending antenatal visits in the 7 districts of the Mbeya Region. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and eating habits using a 24hours dietary recall. A blood sample was collected and tested for hemoglobin content using the HemoCue 201+. Multivariate analysis was performed using standard logistic regression to explore the association between anaemia status with socio-demographic, reproductive and nutritional factors. Overall prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women was 25.5%. Out of 107 pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia and, sixty six had mild anaemia. In a multivariate logistical regression analysis anaemic women was associated with pregnant women coming from lower socio-economic status [adjusted OR = 2.40, 95%CI (1.05, 5.48)]. Moreover, anaemia was less associated with pregnant women who were living in Mbeya district council [adjusted OR = 0.28, 95%CI (0.11, 0.72)], consume at least once a day dark green leafy vegetables [adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.30, 0.94)], and vegetable liquid cooking oil [adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI (0.34, 0.98)]. The prevalence of anaemia among the pregnant women falls in the category of moderate public health problem according to the WHO classification. Low socio-economic status, consumption of green leafy vegetables and vegetable liquid cooking oil were significantly and independently associated with anaemia during pregnancy. Thus, special attention should be given to pregnant women who are in lower socio-economic status and those not consuming vegetables. Interventions that integrate health and nutrition education in reproductive and child health clinics are needed to combat anaemia.

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  • The observed prevalence of anemia (50.6%) falls within the range considered a severe public health problem by WHO.

    “The study underscores the severity of anemia in pregnant women within the range considered as severe public health problem by WHO.”

    From Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women at Hargeisa Group Hospital, Somaliland (2024) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Results and Discussion report an observed anaemia prevalence of 25.5%, not 50.6%, and classify the study’s finding as a moderate public health problem under WHO criteria. The Background gives the severe threshold as at least 40%, but the paper does not say its own observed prevalence meets that threshold. Page numbers are not available in the supplied copy. (LLM, conf=0.95)

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Authors
Abdallah, F., John, S. E., Hancy, A., Paulo, H. A., Sanga, A., Noor, R., Lankoande, F., Chimanya, K., Masumo, R. M., & Leyna, G. H.
Affiliations
  • Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center (TZ)
  • Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (TZ)
  • United Nations Children's Fund (US)
Corresponding author
Masumo, Ray M.
ORCID
Venue
PLOS Global Public Health
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2022-10-05
Volume
2
Issue
10
Pages
e0000280
ISSN
2767-3375 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000280
PMC
PMC10021601
OpenAlex
W4302011907
Cited by
31
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 3
FWCI
5.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLOS Global Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Tanzania
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Public Health and Nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
Keywords
anemia in pregnancy, prevalence, risk factors, socioeconomic status, dietary intake, dark green leafy vegetables, hemoglobin, prenatal care, nutrition education, Mbeya region

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