THE MAGNITUDE OF ANAEMIA AND THE ASSOCIATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND DIETARY INTAKE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN SOUTHEAST OF OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA: A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abebe Ferede* and Roza Amdemikael

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of anaemia and the association of nutritional status and dietary intake among pregnant women in Southeast of Oromia region, Ethiopia: Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Sample size was determined using Gpower computer software. Multistage sampling method was used to select districts, households and 825 pregnant women. Blood samples were taken by using Microcuvettes and analyzed with HemoCue Hb 301®Analyzer. Maternal nutrition status, dietary sources and meal frequency and iron/folic supplementation were assessed using questionnaires and measurements. Data were entered with EpiData 3.0 version and analyzed by SPPS version 20. Results: Eight hundred eight study participants were involved in this study and the rest 17 of them were sick and not included in the study. The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 355(43. 94 %). On multivariate analysis, Mid Upper Aram Circumference <21cm had Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.9 and Confidence Interval (CI): 2.4-3.2), Illiterate-primary level education (AOR: 4.1, 95%CI: 3.9-5.1), monthly income (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 3.1-4.5), not supplied iron/folate (AOR: 8.3, 95%CI: 7.1-12.5) were statistically significant association with anaemia and twice meal frequency among study participants had 4.7 times risk of anaemia compared to those had quadric meal (OR: 4.78 CI: 3.57- 6.44). Conclusions: High prevalence of anaemia (43.94%) was found among pregnant women in the study area. maternal age malnutrition, illiterate-primary education, income, not supplied iron/folate were risk factors for developing anaemia. Therefore, it is essential to strength the implementation of Essential Nutritional Action and increase accessibility and quality of antenatal care.

Keywords: Anaemia, Pregnant women, Community, Oromia, Southeast, Ethiopia