Anaemia during pregnancy in southern Tanzania.
Anaemia in pregnancy is associated with maternal morbidity and mortality and is a risk factor for low birth-weight. Of 507 pregnant women recruited in a community, cross-sectional study in southern Tanzania, 11% were severely anaemic (<8 g haemoglobin/dl). High malarial parasitaemia [odds ratio (OR)=2.3] and iron deficiency (OR=2.4) were independent determinants of anaemia. Never having been married (OR=2.9) was the most important socio-economic predictor of severe anaemia. A subject recruited in the late dry season was six times more likely to be severely anaemic than a subject recruited in the early dry season. Compared with the women who were not identified as severely anaemic, the women with severe anaemia were more likely to present at mother-and-child-health (MCH) clinics early in the pregnancy, to seek medical attention beyond the MCH clinics, and to report concerns about their own health. Pregnancy-related food taboos in the study area principally restrict the consumption of fish and meat. Effective anti-malaria and iron-supplementation interventions are available but are not currently in place; improvements in the mechanisms for the delivery of such interventions are urgently required. Additionally, opportunities for contacting the target groups beyond the clinic environment need to be developed.
Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania. tanyamarchant@hotmail.com
T
T
Marchant
J R M
JR
Armstrong Schellenberg
T
T
Edgar
C
C
Ronsmans
R
R
Nathan
S
S
Abdulla
O
O
Mukasa
H
H
Urassa
C
C
Lengeler
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013609:Taboo; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology