Anaemia in pregnant adolescent girls with malaria and practicing pica.

Freda Dzifa Intiful,David Nana Adjei,Matilda Asante,Edwin Kwame Wiredu,George Awuku Asare

doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.24.96.9282

Abstract

IntroductionPregnancy during the adolescent period is challenging mainly because of the nutritional demands of both the adolescent and pregnancy period. The risk for anaemia increases especially in developing countries such as Ghana where malaria is endemic and the practice of pica is common. In this study, we sought to determine the prevalence of anaemia, pica practice and malaria infection among pregnant adolescent girls and assess the extent to which these factors are associated.MethodsTwo hundred and sixty five (265) pregnant adolescent girls were recruited from three hospitals in Accra. Haemoglobin levels, malaria infection and the practice of pica were assessed. Pearson's Chi squared tests were used to determine associations and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds of being anaemic. Significance was set at p≤0.05.ResultsAnaemia prevalence was 76% with severity ranging from mild (47.8%) to severe (0.8%). About 27.5% were moderately anaemic. Pica was practiced in only 9.1% of the girls. Malaria infection was prevalent in 17.7% of the girls. The logistic regression analysis indicated that pregnant girls with malaria infection were 3.56 times more likely to be anaemic when compared to those without malaria. Also, those who practiced pica were 1.23 times more likely to be anaemic when compared to those who did not practice pica.ConclusionAnaemia is very prevalent in pregnant adolescent girls and is a public health problem. Drastic measures should be taken to reduce the high prevalence.

Highlights

Pregnancy during the adolescent period is challenging mainly because of the nutritional demands of both the adolescent and pregnancy period
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia, pica practice and malaria infection among pregnant adolescent girls and assess the extent to which these factors are related
The association between anaemia, malaria infection and pica practices are presented in Table 3, Table 4

Summary

Introduction

Pregnancy during the adolescent period is challenging mainly because of the nutritional demands of both the adolescent and pregnancy period. We sought to determine the prevalence of anaemia, pica practice and malaria infection among pregnant adolescent girls and assess the extent to which these factors are associated. The logistic regression analysis indicated that pregnant girls with malaria infection were 3.56 times more likely to be anaemic when compared to those without malaria. The intensity of this growth period necessitates the increase in nutritional needs During this period there is a high demand for iron, especially in the adolescent girl because of the onset of mensuration. The presence of anaemia, practice of pica and malaria has all been implicated The presence of these conditions in pregnant adolescent girls can pose greater challenge because of the obvious burden of the pregnancy on the rapidly growing mother which has to cater for another developing foetus. Several studies have linked the practice of pica to negative health outcomes such as micronutrient deficiencies iron, zinc and calcium [6]

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