title: Prevalence of anaemia, deficiencies of iron and folic acid and their determinants in Ethiopian women.
abstract: A cross-sectional community-based study with analytic component was conducted among Ethiopian women during June-July 2005 to assess the magnitude of anaemia and deficiencies of iron and folic acid and to compare the factors responsible for anaemia among anaemic and non-anaemic cases. In total, 970 women, aged 15-19 years, were selected systematically for haematological and other important parameters. The overall prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia, deficiency of folic acid, and parasitic infestations was 30.4%, 50.1%, 18.1%, 31.3%, and 13.7% respectively. Women who had more children aged less than five years but above two years, open-field toilet habits, chronic illnesses, and having intestinal parasites were positively associated with anaemia. Women who had no formal education and who did not use contraceptives were negatively associated with anaemia. The major determinants identified for anaemia were chronic illnesses [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.55), deficiency of iron (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.35-0.64), and deficiency of folic acid (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.50-0.90). The odds for developing anaemia was 1.1 times more likely among women with chronic illnesses, 60% more likely in the iron-deficient and 40% more likely in the folic acid-deficient than their counterparts. One in every three women had anaemia and deficiency of folic acid while one in every two had iron deficiency, suggesting that deficiencies of both folic acid and iron constitute the major micronutrient deficiencies in Ethiopian women. The risk imposed by anaemia to the health of women ranging from impediment of daily activities and poor pregnancy outcome calls for effective public-health measures, such as improved nutrient supplementation, health education, and timely treatment of illnesses.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 27285/1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. hjemal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jemal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haidar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 May;71(5 Suppl):1280S-4S
references.pmid: 10799402
references.citation: Br J Nutr. 1993 Sep;70(2):593-607
references.pmid: 8260484
references.citation: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2001 Sep;55(9):743-7
references.pmid: 11528487
references.citation: East Afr Med J. 2005 Dec;82(12):625-30
references.pmid: 16619706
references.citation: Trop Med Int Health. 2003 Apr;8(4):301-9
references.pmid: 12667148
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2001 Dec;53(11):1525-39
references.pmid: 11710427
references.citation: Acta Med Scand. 1968;:11-74
references.pmid: 5708544
references.citation: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2003 Apr 25;107(2):125-34
references.pmid: 12648856
references.citation: J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Jun;13(6):355-363
references.pmid: 12088801
references.citation: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2003 Mar 5;95(5):373-80
references.pmid: 12618502
references.citation: East Afr Med J. 1999 Nov;76(11):618-22
references.pmid: 10766555
references.citation: J Nutr. 2002 Apr;132(4 Suppl):827S-30S
references.pmid: 11925490
references.citation: Mutat Res. 2001 Apr 18;475(1-2):7-20
references.pmid: 11295149
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1996 Apr;86(4):544-50
references.pmid: 8604787
references.citation: PLoS Med. 2006 Apr;3(4):e87
references.pmid: 16464132
references.citation: World Health Stat Q. 1985;38(3):302-16
references.pmid: 3878044
references.citation: East Afr Med J. 2003 Apr;80(4):191-4
references.pmid: 12918801
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Nov;62(5):1013-9
references.pmid: 7572725