ANAEMIA IN PREGNANCY: THE PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN THE NKWANTA SOUTH MUNICIPALITY OF THE OTI REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is found to be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy and the associated risk factors in the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti region of Ghana. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using systematic sampling technique. Antenatal records of all pregnant women who received antenatal care (ANC) points at the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were retrieved from the ANC register. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect relevant data: maternal socio-demographic information, obstetric and antenatal history. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 21. Bivariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression of anaemia status and the various independent variables were conducted using 95% confidence interval. Results: The mean haemoglobin concentration for the study population was 10.2±1.5g/dL. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb<11g/d/l) in pregnancy at booking and 36 weeks were 67.4% (n=174 p<0.001) and 70.1% (n=54 p<0.001). There was no significant positive association between maternal height and anaemia in pregnancy. There were positive association between anaemia in pregnancy and maternal age (P=0.013), weight (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.007) and gestational age (P=0.006), all at booking. Gravidity (P=0.017) and parity (P=0.027) showed positive associations with anaemia at 36 weeks. Also, number of ANC visits (P=0.001) and number IPTp doses received during pregnancy showed significant positive association with anaemia in pregnancy. Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of anaemia at booking and at 36 weeks of gestation. There were significant positive associations between anaemia in pregnancy and a number of maternal risk factors. There is the need to intensify maternal education on anaemia in pregnancy.