Multilevel analysis of anemia levels among reproductive age groups of women in Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration falls below 11 g/dL. It impairs health and well-being in women and increases the risk of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. The availability of local information on the magnitude and associated factors has a major role in the management and control of anemia in women contributing to reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to see regional impacts and influencing factors related to the anemia among women in Ethiopia using the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data. The anemia level among women aged 15–49 years (n = 5133) using the multilevel ordinal logistic regression model was analyzed. RESULTS: In the study, 37.4% of women in Ethiopia had no anemia, above one-third percent (34.4%) of women had moderate anemia, and approximately 4% women’s anemia level was severe. The 27.1% of variation of anemia was due to between-region variations. The odds of being normal weight in the greater category of anemia level were 0.59 times less likely as compared to underweight women. The higher levels of anemia were increased by 2.31 for pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant women. Having work being in greater anemia levels was 0.88 times less likely as compared to had no work. Older women (35–49 years) in higher anemia levels were 2.1 times more likely as compared to younger women. The women living in the rural area being in the greater category anemia levels were 1.53 times more likely as compared to women living in the urban area. The higher level of anemia in the rich quintile was 0.72 times less likely to the higher level of anemia as compared in the poor quintile women. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women in Ethiopia are more exposed for the higher anemia level and women live in rural area have the greater anemia level.