Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnancy Among Women Visiting Antenatal Clinic in Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos, Nigeria

Bassi Amos Paul

doi:10.11648/j.cmr.20160503.17

Abstract

In developing countries such as Nigeria, anaemia in pregnancy is thought to be one of the most common problem affecting pregnant women accounting for a significant level of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy among women visiting Antenatal Clinic (ANC) in Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH). This is a cross sectional descriptive study conducted from August to September, 2015 on two hundred and thirty seven (237) women. A semi–structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic, obstetrics, and nutritional information from the respondent pregnant women who consented at each antenatal clinic days (Mondays and Thursdays). Packed cell volume was used to assess the level of anaemia in accordance to WHO guide lines. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy was found to be 43.5%, amongst all women who were anaemic, 83%, 8.7% and 2% were found to have mild, moderate and severe anaemia respectively. However, 0.9%, 35%, 52% of these women were found to be in their first, second and third trimesters respectively. 61% were multi-parous women (para 2-4); 24.3% women had only two antenatal clinic visits, 66.2% women were within the age group of 34–39 years; 89.3% women had been taking balanced diet, while 89.3% women were on their routine drugs; 66.0% women used insecticide treated mosquito net; 66.0% women had taken anti-malarial prophylaxis. Reduced ANC visits and increasing age where significant factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy. Prevalence of anaemia amongst pregnant women in BHUTH was 43.5%. The most common type of anaemia in this study is mild anaemia. However, the prevalence of anaemia was found to predominate amongst women in their third trimester. Increased maternal age and reduced number of antenatal care visits were statistically significant factors to be associated with anaemia in pregnancy.

Highlights

IntroductionAnaemia is defined as a decrease in the concentration of circulating red blood cells or in the haemoglobin concentration and con-comitant impaired capacity to transport oxygen [1]
The Antenatal Clinic is a service unit of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology which provides services such as health education, nutritional counseling, immunization, screening and treatment of common diseases in pregnancy to about 60-80 pregnant women visiting on clinic days which are every Mondays and Thursdays
Shows that 33.3% of the women between the ages of 2933 years, while only one woman was aged below 18 years; Most of the women were in the third trimester 139 (58.6%)

Summary

Introduction

Anaemia is defined as a decrease in the concentration of circulating red blood cells or in the haemoglobin concentration and con-comitant impaired capacity to transport oxygen [1]. Anaemia in pregnancy is defined as a haemoglobin concentration

Methods

Results

Conclusion