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.
Marchant
T
T
Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania. tanyamarchant@hotmail.com
Armstrong Schellenberg
J R M
JR
Edgar
T
T
Ronsmans
C
C
Nathan
R
R
Abdulla
S
S
Mukasa
O
O
Urassa
H
H
Lengeler
C
C
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