Burden And Determinants of Anaemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Rural Healthcare Centers in The Ada West District of Ghana

Abstract

Abena Narkie Nartey, Maxwell Owusu Peprah, Joseph Tei Boye-Doe2, Mark Danquah, Naomi Nyanta and George Akowuah

Introduction: Anaemia during pregnancy is known to be a major contributor to maternal and neonatal morbidity, therefore affecting most pregnant women especially those in developing countries. Preventable causes such as poor maternal nutrition and infections causes severe complications in maternal and neonatal health. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the burden and determinants of anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at rural facilities in the Ada West District of Ghana.

Methodology: The study was quantitative and employed a cross-sectional study design. A simple random sampling technique was applied to enlist respondents (n=345). Data was collected with the aid of validated and structured questions and was administered one on one with respondents. Data gathered were analysed with the (STATA version 17). Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted on the data collected and findings were depicted graphically and on tables. In the bivariate and multivariate models, an alpha value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant between the dependent and independent variables.

Results: The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 51.0%. Unemployment and travelling long distances (>5km) were associated with anaemia. Again, late initiation to antenatal care, third trimester of pregnancy, and birth spacing of less than four years in addition to malaria parasite infection significantly contributed to anaemia. However, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets protected pregnant women from anaemia.

Conclusion and Recommendation: The prevalence of anaemia was high and factors such as unemployment, long distance to a health facility, late initiation of antenatal care, third trimester in pregnancy, and birth spacing less than a year, in addition to malaria parasite infection significantly predicted anaemia among pregnant women. Health education through mass media and during antenatal care clinics by health care practitioners would help reduce the occurrence of anaemia among pregnant women. Regular antenatal visits and testing of malaria parasite infection for pregnant women would also be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of anaemia. Further investigations are recommended to explore pregnant women's knowledge of anaemia and associated burden in the district.

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