title: Anemia and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in Wolayita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia during pregnancy is a common problem which affects both the mother's and her child's health. The main aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of anemia among pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a facility based cross-sectional study on 363 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic in Wolayita Soddo Otona Hospital from January to March 2014. Sociodemographic data were collected through questionnaire based interview. Four milliliter of venous blood and five grams of fecal samples were collected from each pregnant woman. Hematological parameters were determined using CELL DYN 1800(®) (Abott, USA) Hematology analyzer. Stool samples were checked for intestinal parasites using both direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the prevalence of anemia was 39.94% (95% CI: 34.7 - 45.2%), of which the majority (60%) had moderate anemia. The mean hemoglobin concentration was 11.55±2.97 g/dl. Age 15-24 years (AOR: 9.89, 95%CI:2.68-21.41), family size >5 (AOR:7.74, 95%CI:4.15-16.47), multigravida (AOR:2.66, 95%CI:1.1.31-4.53), having low income (AOR:5.81, 95%CI:2.93-14.11), current clinical illness (AOR: 6.38, 95%CI:3.13-13.00), intestinal parasitic infection (AOR:2.41, 95%CI:1.08-5.81), no history of contraceptive usage (AOR:5.02 95%CI:2.21-11.47), being in third trimesters (AOR:11.37, 95%CI:4.56-24.82), history of excess menstrual bleeding (AOR:9.82, 95%CI:3.27-21.35) and low body mass index (AOR:9.44, 95%CI:7.79-22.18) were identified as independent predictors of anemia among pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anemia prevalence was found out to be moderate public health importance. Identified risk factors should be considered for prevention and control of anemia among pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Pathology, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Lealem
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gedefaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Pathology, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Asrat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayele
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Pathology, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yaregal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asres
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Andualem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mossie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anemia; Antenatal care clinic; Hemoglobin; Pregnant women