Anemia and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Globally, anemia is a public health problem, particularly in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Pregnant women are at a higher risk for anemia and anemic pregnant women often develop complications. Early diagnosis of pregnant women for anemia saves both the life of the newborn and hers. Therefore, the present study intended to assess anemia and its associated factors among pregnant women attending at Madda Walabu University Goba referral hospital. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 3 to May 3, 2019, among pregnant women attending Madda Walabu University Goba referral hospital. A total of 353 respondents were included in the study by using systematic random sampling techniques. Data were collected using both face-to-face interview and hemoglobin measurement. The collected data were entered into SPSS and analyzed using both bi-variable and multiple logistic regressions. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05 in the multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: In this study, the prevalence of anemia was 46.2% (95%CI: 40.9%, 51.5%). Factors significantly associated with anemia were positive stool examination for parasites (AOR=2.9, 95%CI 1.255–6.856), lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (AOR=2.7, 95%CI 1.47–4.86), no iron supplementation (AOR=2.2, 95%CI 1.07–4.45), large family size (AOR=2.1, 95%CI 1.13–3.77), and absence of abortion history (AOR=0.4, 95%CI 0.24–0.77). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was high. Pregnant women with a previous history of abortion, positive stool for parasite, lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, no iron supplementation and large family size above five were risk factors for anemia. Therefore, encouraging pregnant women to take iron supplementation and to eat fruits and vegetables are important.