The Frequency of Anemia and Underlying Factors among Iranian Pregnant Women from Provinces with Different Maternal Mortality Rate

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a common nutritional disorder that is more prevalent in pregnant women than other population groups. This study aimed to assess the frequency of anemia and its association with health care determinants among Iranian pregnant women from provinces with different Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was carried out on 2737 pregnant women referred to public health centers in Iran, 2015. The participants were randomly selected by multistage sampling from six provinces with low, moderate or high MMR. The level of hemoglobin lower than 11 g/dl were defined as anemia in first and third trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The rate of anemia in first and third trimester were respectively 8.2 and 26.7%. The most determinants of anemia among women in both first and third trimester of pregnancy were geographical classes with high MMR, no care before pregnancy, and type of house. Moreover, lower number of previous pregnancies (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.85) and adequate care during pregnancy (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.92) were protected women from anemia and high number of children (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.80) enhanced risk of anemia in first trimester of pregnancy. Moreover, higher body mass index had lower odds of anemia in third trimester. CONCLUSION: The rate of anemia is differed in various parts of Iran, and this disorder gets worse in third trimester of pregnancy than first. Strengthening health care programs may be a useful strategies to prevent and control anemia.