Prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at St. Francis Referral Hospital Ifakara, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Anemia in pregnancy is a worldwide public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries with significant impact on the health of mothers and fetus. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at St. Francis Referral Hospital (SFRH), Ifakara, Tanzania. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from January to March 2021. A total of 116 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Interviews were conducted followed by determination of haemoglobin level. Results: The results revealed the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at SFRH to be 52.6%. In this study mild anemia was 34.5%, moderate anemia13.8% and severe anemia 4.3%. Conclusion: Anemia in pregnancy is a public health problem in study setting of St. Francis Referral Hospital, Ifakara, Tanzania.