Anemia among pregnant women in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia: an epidemiologic study.
A cross sectional study was conducted during August 1992, on a representative sample of 6,539 pregnant women attending 69 primary health care centers in the Asir region, southwestern Saudi Arabia for the assessment of their hemoglobin level. The overall prevalence of anemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) was found to be 31.9%. It was found that the prevalence was affected by age (37.3% among those who were less than 20 years old), parity (34.9% among those who had 7 and more deliveries), inter-pregnancy spacing (35.2% among those whose birth spacing was less than 1 year), gestational age, and education (35.1% among illiterates). Health education programs at primary health care level in the region should be revised to stress the importance of balanced diet, compliance with iron medication and sufficient spacing between subsequent pregnancies.
Mahfouz
A A
AA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Abha College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
el-Said
M M
MM
Alakija
W
W
Badawi
I A
IA
al-Erian
R A
RA
Moneim
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001721:Birth Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D006454:Hemoglobins