title: Haemoglobin status and predictors of anaemia among pregnant women in Mpigi, Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem especially in the low-income countries where it is highly prevalent. There has been no recent study in Uganda about the factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy. We aimed to assess the current haemoglobin (Hb) status and factors associated with anaemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) in pregnant women in Mpigi, Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed Hb levels of 2436 pregnant women at 28+ weeks of gestation at six health facilities, who were approached to participate in a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial of antenatal distribution of misoprostol (for self-administration after home birth or when oxytocin is not available). Women were administered a questionnaire and their baseline blood haemoglobin was examined using portable HemoCueR Hb 301 system. Predictors of anaemia were estimated using linear and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Hb was 11.5 (± 1.38) g/dl and prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) was 32.5% (95% CI 30.6%, 34.3%). After adjusting for measured confounders, factors associated with increased risk of anaemia in pregnancy were malaria infection (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.58), Human Immuno-deficiency Virus infection (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.36, 2.90) and lack of iron supplementation (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.36, 2.03). Intermittent presumptive treatment of malaria, maternal age and parity showed a weak association with anaemia in pregnancy
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in our setting highlights the need to put more effort in the fight against malaria and HIV, and also ensure that pregnant women access iron supplements early in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P,O, Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. ononge2006@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ononge
authors.forename: Oona
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirembe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D016595:Misoprostol