title: Determinants of anaemia among pregnant women in rural Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of intervention efforts, in Uganda, as in other developing countries, high levels of anaemia among pregnant women continue. Anaemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) is a matter of national concern. This study was carried out to assess determinants of anaemia in Kiboga district.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single cross-sectional, descriptive survey. The anaemia status of the pregnant women was determined by measuring their haemoglobin levels. Possible determinant factors including socio-economic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, practices and food intake were assessed using a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in Kiboga district was high enough (63.1%) to be described as a severe public health problem. The uptake and utilisation of the public-health intervention package to combat anaemia in pregnancy was low, with iron/folic acid supplementation at 13.2%, use of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria 45.4%, and use of de-worming medicines 14.5%. Women from households without a functional radio were 2.07 times more likely be anaemic (95%CI, 1.08-3.00) compared with women from households where there was a functional radio. There was little awareness and functional knowledge about anaemia among pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of anaemia observed in Kiboga district can be attributed to poverty and limited access to nutrition and health education information which lead to low uptake and utilization of the public-health intervention package to combat anaemia in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. mmbule@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marjorie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mbule
authors.forename: Yusuf B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Byaruhanga
authors.forename: Magaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kabahenda
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubowa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D037841:Pregnant People; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins