Abstract
BackgroundMaternal anemia is a worldwide public health problem especially in developing countries including Ethiopia. The anemia burden among lactating mothers was higher in Africa particularly in Ethiopia, and scant attention was paid. To date, there is limited evidence on community level determinants of anemia among lactating mothers in Ethiopia. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with anemia among lactating mothers in Ethiopia.MethodsSecondary data analysis was employed using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. A total weighted sample of 4658 lactating women was included. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify individual and community level determinants of anemia during lactation. Finally, the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anemia was 28.3% (95% CI; 26.7, 30.0) with the higher regional prevalence in Somali (68.3%) and Afar (47.2%) regions. Current modern contraceptive use [AOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.87], Poorer [AOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.98], middle [AOR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.97], rich [AOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.85], and richest [AOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.98] wealth index, being working within the 12 months preceding the survey [AOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.92], and taking iron during pregnancy [AOR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98] were associated with lower odds of anemia. Whereas, being female household head [AOR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.49], having two births [AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.55] and three to four births [AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.06] within 5 years, and higher community illiteracy level [AOR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.70] were associated with the increased odds of anemia during lactation.ConclusionIn this study the prevalence of anemia among lactating mothers was high. It was affected by both individual and community level factors. Therefore, focusing on family planning services especially on modern contraceptive methods, iron supplementation during pregnancy, child spacing, and improving community literacy could decrease anemia during lactation.
Highlights
Maternal anemia is a worldwide public health problem especially in developing countries including Ethiopia
The majority (74.70%) of lactating mothers had normal nutritional status (BMI = 18.5– 24.99) and 95.21% of respondents were not covered by health insurance
Consistent with a study in Ethiopia based on Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2011 [15], we found that lactating mothers who had been working within the 12 months preceding the survey had lower odds of having anemia
Summary
Maternal anemia is a worldwide public health problem especially in developing countries including Ethiopia. Anemia refers to low hemoglobin in blood with a cutoff point < 110 g/L for pregnant women and < 120 g/L for non-pregnant women [1] It is a condition which is characterized by a decreased number of red blood cells or hemoglobin level that results in insufficient oxygencarrying capacity of blood to meet the cellular metabolic demand of the body. It is a worldwide public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries and all population groups [2]. Acute and chronic inflammations, parasitic infections, and acquired or inherited disorders that affect the synthesis of hemoglobin and production or survival of red blood cells can be causes for anemia [2, 3]
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