Determinants of Anemia in Pregnant Women with Emphasis on Intestinal Helminthic Infection at Sher- Ethiopia Hospital, Ziway, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Back ground: Anemia is a common and serious problem in pregnancy. Parasitic infections contribute to iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. The objective of the study was to assess determinants of anemia among pregnant women with emphasis on intestinal helminthic infection at Sher-Ethiopia hospital, Ziway, southern Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women who came for their antenatal care follow up at Sher-Ethiopia hospital, Ziway, Southern Ethiopia from April, 1/2014-June 30/ 2014. A total of 748 pregnant women were screened for intestinal parasitic infection using direct microscopy and formol ether concentration techniques and level of hemoglobin was determined using hematocrit screening technique. Other determinants of anemia during pregnancy were also assessed by using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows version 16.0. Statistical tests were performed at the level of significance of 5%. Result: Prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in pregnant women was 58.2%. Out of 436 intestinal parasite infected women 176(40.4%) had more than one intestinal parasitic infection. Prevalence of anemia in this study subjects was 51.9% and the mean hematocrit level was 34%. Anemic women were 10 times likely to have hookworm plus other intestinal helminthic infection (p value = .000), 2 times likely to have birth interval less than two years (p value = .018), 2 times likely not to have shoe wearing habit (p value = .045) and 2 times likely not having taken iron during pregnancy (p value = .025). Conclusion: From the result it can de concluded that all antenatal care attendants should be screened for anemia and intestinal helminthic infection at their first visit and those anemic and helminthic infected women should be treated properly.