Pregnant mothers are more anemic than lactating mothers, a comparative cross-sectional study, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration of a woman is less than 11 g/dl (gram per deciliter). World health organization report indicated that 20–50% of the world population was affected by iron deficiency anemia [1, 2]. Anemia was one of the great public health burdens for pregnant women affecting 56 million pregnant women globally [3, 4]. In the developed countries, 18% of pregnant women were anemic but in developing countries, 35–75% of pregnant women were anemic [5, 6].

Anemia during pregnancy has many adverse outcomes for the mother and her child. Globally, anemia resulted in the death of 115,000 mothers and 591,000 perinatal mortality annually [7‐12]. Anemia during pregnancy predisposes mother to prolonged labor, abnormal delivery, increases the risk of hemorrhage [13‐15]. Also, anemia increases the risk of infection to pregnant women due to its effect on the immune system [11, 16‐20]. Newborns receive a number of complications as a result of maternal anemia. Among others, maternal anemia increases the risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity, preterm deliveries, low birth weight baby, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) [21‐31].

The burden of anemia varies from country to country; in Germany, 51% of pregnant women were anemic, in Trinidad and Tobago 15%, in Nepal 72.6% and 58% in India [32‐35]. In Africa, more than 60% of pregnant women were anemic: in Ghana 44% of pregnant women, in Benin 24.3% of pregnant women, in Kenya 69.1% of pregnant women and in eastern Sudan 80.3% of pregnant women were anemic [36‐42]. Ethiopia is among country highly affected by anemia: the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women ranges from 15%-63%, in lactating mothers the prevalence of anemia was 22.3% [4, 43‐49].

Finding from different scholars globally revealed that anemia in pregnancy was associated with gestational age, iron supplementation during pregnancy, wealth quintile, gravidity, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), age, residence, history of malaria infection, hookworm infection, parity, history of abortion, chronic inflammatory disorders, use of insecticide-treated bed net, tea consumption and use of animal product [33, 34, 39, 41, 42, 48‐55].

Even if anemia resulted in these entire adverse outcomes for pregnant mother and their children, information on hemoglobin status of pregnant and lactating mothers are scarce. Due to lack of information decision makers are not capitalizing on the problem of anemia in pregnancy and lactating mother. This study is designed to attempt to fill these gaps. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of anemia among pregnant and lactating women. Furthermore, the study attempted to identify the determining factors of anemia in pregnant and lactating mother and these aims were achieved successfully.

Health facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. The study was conducted in the city of Bahir dar, the capital of the Amhara regional state, located at the geographical coordinates of 11° 38′ north latitude and 37° 15′ east longitude, which is located approximately 560 km (km) northwest of Addis Ababa. The target populations were all pregnant and lactating mother in the city of Bahir dar and the study population were those presenting themselves for medical help. Pregnant or lactating mother unable to communicate were excluded from the study. The sample size was calculated using Epi-info software version 7 using the assumption of 95% confidence interval, pregnant to lactating mother ratio of 2:1, the proportion of anemia among lactating mother 22.3% [46], a power of 90%, an odds ratio of 1.5 and a non-response rate of 10%. Finally, the estimated sample size was 567 pregnant women and 1133 lactating women. Study participants were selected from health facilities of Bahir dar city. Stratified sampling technique was used to select study participants from each health facility. The data were collected from November 2014–May 2015. The data collection procedures contained two parts, exit interview and collecting blood and stool samples. For the interview part, first, the questionnaire was prepared in English then translated to Amharic (local language) then back to English to keep its consistency. The interview was conducted by 10 nurses professional and supervised by 3 health officers. The blood and stool samples were collected by 5 first degree holder laboratory technologists and supervised by two second degree holder laboratory technologists. From each woman, one gram stool sample was collected in 10 ml (ML) SAF (sodium acetate- acetic acid-formalin solution). Concentration technique was used. The stool sample was well mixed and filtered using a funnel with gauze then centrifuged for one minute at 2000 RPM (revolution per minute) and the supernatant was discarded. 7 ML normal saline was added, mixed with a wooden stick, 3 ML ether was added and mixed well then centrifuged for 5 min at 2000 RPM. Finally, the supernatant was discarded and the whole sediment was examined for parasites [56]. 1 ML blood sample was collected from each woman following standard operational procedures to measure their hemoglobin level and red blood cell indices using Mindray hematology analyzer. To maintain the quality of the data; pretest was conducted in 50 parents, training was given to data collectors and supervisors and the whole data collection process was closely supervised by the investigator and supervisors. The collected data were checked for completeness. The data were entered into the computer using Epi-info software and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of anemia among pregnant and lactating women. Binary logistic regression and multiple linear regressions were used to identify the determinants of anemia.

Ethical clearance was granted from Amhara National Regional State Health Bureau ethical committee. Legal permission was obtained from each health center. Written informed consent was obtained from each study participant. The confidentiality of the data was kept at all steps. Women with intestinal parasites or low hemoglobin concentration (<11 g/dl) were referred to the nearby health center for further management.

A total of 1651 women was included giving a response rate of 97.12%. The mean age of the respondents was 22.65 years (SD [standard deviation] 5.12 years). Orthodox Christian constituted 96.7% (1596) of study participants, 90.1% of study participants were Amhara by ethnicity, 52.7% of women were from urban areas, and 49.3% of study participants were house wife by their occupation (Table 1).

The prevalence of anemia in lactating and pregnant women was 43% (95% CI, 41%-45%) and 84% of anemia was iron deficiency anemia followed by normocytic normocromic anemia This finding is lower when compared to findings from eastern Ethiopia [48] Germany [32], Nepal [33], India [35], eastern Sudan [40], Kenya [41]; agrees with findings from Ghana [39]and higher than finding from northern Ethiopia [49] southern Ethiopia [45] Trinidad and Tobago [34], Benin [42]. These might be due to the reason that different distribution of determinants of anemia across different social, cultural or geographical areas.

The risk of anemia in rural Lactating or pregnant women was 32% higher as compared to urban lactating or pregnant women [AOR 0.68, (95% CI: 0.5–0.94)]. This finding agrees with finding from northern Ethiopia [49]. This is due to the reason that women in the rural areas are in low socio-economic status so that they have no access to use iron rich foods [48].

Malaria infected women had 3.61 folds higher risk of anemia as compared to women with no history of malaria infection [AOR 3.61(95% CI: 2.63–4.95)]. This finding agrees with finding from north Ethiopia [49], Nepal [33], Ghana [52]. This is due to the fact that Plasmodium species ingests the red blood cells of the host and finally decreases the number of red blood cells.

Abortion increases the risk of anemia by 6.63 folds higher [AOR 6.63 (95% CI: 3.23–13.6)]. This finding agrees with finding from Trinidad and Tobago [34]. This is due to the reason that abortion increases the risk of hemorrhage.

Hookworm infection increases the risk of anemia by 3.37 folds higher [AOR 3.37 (95% CI: 2.33–4.88)]. This finding agrees with findings from northern Ethiopia [49], Nepal [33]. This is due to the fact that hookworm causing parasites significantly depletes the red blood cell of the host.

Iron supplementation during pregnancy decreases the risk of anemia by 97% [AOR 0.03 (95% CI: 0.02–0.04)]. The main reason for not receiving iron during pregnancy was unavailability of the drug. This finding agrees with finding from eastern Ethiopia [48]. This is due to the reason that iron act as a predominant role in the production of red blood cells.

Tea consumption increases the risk of anemia 3.63 folds higher [AOR 3.63 (95% CI: 2.56–5.14)]. This finding agrees with finding from Ethiopia [55]. This is because the fact that tea contains chemicals that inhibit the absorption of iron [57].

Pregnant mother had 2.24 folds higher risk of anemia than lactating mother [AOR 2.24 (95% CI: 1.57–3.12)]. This is due to the reason that after the delivery the mother has access to foods, especially animal products so that they can get more foods than when she was pregnant. In addition, mother can be treated for hookworm after delivery; during pregnancy, hookworm was not treated because the drug has a teratogenic effect.

MUAC had a positive relationship with hemoglobin concentration. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) increase the hemoglobin concentration of women will also increase [B 0.36 (95% CI: 0.33, −0.4)]. This finding agrees with finding from eastern Ethiopia [48] signaling that MUAC can be used to evaluate the nutritional level of pregnant or lactating women.

This finding agrees with finding from the republic of Seychelles [53], Trinidad and Tobago [34], Benin [42]. This is due to the reason that as the number of pregnancy increases the risk of ante-partum hemorrhage and postpartum hemorrhage for the women became high.

The age of the women and her hemoglobin concentration had negative relationships. As the age increases the risk of becoming anemic would be high [B -0.03 (95% CI:-0.04, −0.03)]. This finding agrees with finding from Benin [42], northern Ethiopia [49]. This is due to the reason that as the age of the mother increases her parity wills also increases.

The main limitation of this study might be recall bias, but the interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire and the interviewers were trained health professionals they can probe and make the respondents remember the issues.

Both pregnant and lactating mothers were affected by anemia and the burden of anemia is higher in the pregnant mother than the lactating mother and iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Anemia in pregnancy and lactation was determined by a history of malaria, history of abortion, hookworm infection, tea consumption, MUAC, residence, iron supplementation during pregnancy, parity, and age.

Iron supplementation should be given both to pregnant and lactating mothers. Iron supplementation should be included as part of malaria treatment in women with malaria. Women are advised to avoid tea during their pregnancy and lactation period. Scholars should consider MUAC as an alternative tool to detect nutritional defects in pregnancy.