Anemia among pregnant women in internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia: a cross-sectional study on prevalence, severity and associated risk factors

Hotspot analysis of anaemia among pregnant women in Ethiopia: hotspot analysis of national demographic and health survey data

BACKGROUND

Anaemia is a significant global health problem, especially, in developing nations like Ethiopia. Despite increasing rates over the past two decades, there is limited research on the specific prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in the country.

OBJECTIVE

To identify hotspot areas of anaemia-associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Ethiopian demographic study from 2005 to 2016.

PARTICIPANTS

This study analysed 3350 pregnant women.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Hotspot area of anaemia among pregnant women, trend of anaemia and associated factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women has shown significant fluctuations over the years. Between 2005 and 2011, there was a notable decrease from 30.9% to 21.5% while the prevalence increased from 21.5% in 2011 to 29.58% in 2016. The identified determinants of anaemia among pregnant women were female-headed household, belonging to the highest wealth quintile, being in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, being a working woman and residing in the Somalia region. Hotspot areas, where the prevalence of anaemia was particularly high, were identified in Somalia, Dire Dawa, Afar and Harari regions.

CONCLUSION

Anaemia during pregnancy is a major public health concern in Ethiopia, with a concerning increase between 2011 and 2016. Hotspot areas like Somali, Dire Dawa, Afar and Harari are particularly affected. Shockingly, nearly one in three pregnant women in Ethiopia suffer from anaemia. To address this issue effectively, targeted interventions prioritising economically disadvantaged households and pregnant women in their second and third trimesters are crucial. Monitoring spatial patterns and contributing factors is vital to develop tailored interventions and improve maternal health outcomes in these high-risk areas. By strategically targeting hotspot areas nationwide, significant progress can be made in reducing anaemia among pregnant women.

Ferric carboxymaltose: A game changer in the management of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy

Anaemia is a well-known global health concern in the South Asian countries, and it is estimated that India has the utmost prevalence of anaemia and maternal deaths due to iron deficiency anaemia. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in antenatal women with anaemia in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods

A single-arm prospective cohort (before-after) study among 60 antenatal women with moderate to severe anaemia in the second and third trimesters was conducted from December 2020 to December 2022, and the eligible women were given 1000 mg of intravenous FCM injection. Efficacy was assessed by rate of improvement in haemoglobin and ferritin at 2 weeks post infusion. Safety analysis was done by assessing adverse drug reactions and foetal heart monitoring during the infusion.

Results

A total 60 antenatal women with a median gestational age of 32.5 weeks at presentation received 1000 mg of intravenous FCM. There was a rise in mean haemoglobin from 8.05 gm% pre-infusion to 10.93 gm% 2 weeks post infusion, showing a mean rise of 2.88 gm%. Similar improvement was noted in mean serum ferritin levels from 25.92 pre-infusion to 253.96 post FCM infusion. There were no reports of drug-related major adverse effects in the mother or the foetus.

Conclusions

FCM is found to be safe and effective treatment with rapid replenishment of haemoglobin and ferritin levels in a single dose, which makes it suitable and compels consideration as the first choice for treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia.

Determinants of anemia among pregnant women attending a tertiary hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia: unmatched case-control study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending a tertiary referral hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

METHODS

An unmatched case-control study was conducted on pregnant women who visited the antenatal clinics of a tertiary referral hospital between March and July 2021. The study recruited pregnant women who had a hemoglobin level of <11 g/dL into the anemic group, while those with hemoglobin levels ≥11 g/dL were included in the non-anemic group. Demographics, clinical, obstetrics, nutrition-related, hygiene- and sanitation-related, and parasitic infection-related data were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 449 pregnant women (399 anemic and 50 non-anemic) participated in the study. A total of 224 (56.7%) in the anemic group and 31 (62.0%) in the non-anemic group did not consume any dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, bukurey, cagaar, and koomboow (p=0.040). Notably, 255 (63.9%) in the anemic group and 21 (42.0%) in the non-anemic group had a middle-upper arm circumference <23 cm. More than half of anemic [335 (84%)] and non-anemic [46 (92.0%)] were classified under low dietary diversity score. Majority of the study participants, 288 (72.4%) of the anemic and 39 (78%) of the non-anemic groups, used pit toilets in dwellings, and 70.2% (134/191) of the anemic and 64.4% (246/382) of the non-anemic groups disposed of solid waste in open fields.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that women who consumed green vegetables such as spinach, bukurey, cagaar, and koomboow in their diet had middle-upper arm circumference less than 23 cm, and those with low dietary diversity significantly developed anemia during pregnancy.

Prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women at Hargeisa Group Hospital, Somaliland

BACKGROUND

Anemia remains a major global public health issue, affecting around 24.8% of the world's population in both developing and developed countries. Pregnant women in developing countries are particularly susceptible, with 38.2% affected worldwide. Anemia is also a major contributor to maternal mortality, with 510,000 maternal deaths globally, of which 20% occur in developing countries and are related to anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent form, impacting 1.3 to 2.2 billion individuals, with 50% being women of reproductive age.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at Hargeisa Group Hospital (HGH), Somaliland.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included 360 pregnant women, who sought ANC at HGH from July 15 to August 6, 2023. The study subjects were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and participants' current medical charts, including hemoglobin levels. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 20).

RESULTS

The study revealed an overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women at 50.6% (95% CI: 45.40 - 55.72%). Anemia severity was categorized as mild (33.0%), moderate (54.9%), and severe (12.1%). Factors statistically associated with anemia included gestational age in the third trimester (AOR = 3.248, 95% CI: 1.491-7.074), lack of ANC visits (AOR = 6.828, 95% CI: 1.966-23.721), and absence of iron supplementation (AOR = 29.588, 95% CI: 2.922-299.713). Notably, a higher consumption of meat per week was associated with a reduced risk of anemia (AOR = 0.198, 95% CI: 0.104-0.379).

CONCLUSION

The study underscores the severity of anemia in pregnant women within the range considered as severe public health problem by WHO. It is crucial to emphasize effective prenatal care, improve dietary practices, and promote the provision of iron supplements. Enhanced maternal education on Anemia during ANC visits has the potential to reduce Anemia prevalence and mitigate adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Correlates of minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women on antenatal care follow up at public health facility in Puntland, Somalia

In Somalia, where a poorly diversified diet is leading to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, there is a significant dearth of evidence that needs to be studied. Hence, this study was to identify factors associated with minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women in Somalia. A facility-based survey was conducted among 361 pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) using a structured questionnaire. Dietary diversity was measured using consumption of 10-food groups. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used, along with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. About 48.2% (42.9-53.5) of women had an inadequately diversified diet. The risk of having an inadequately diversified diet was higher among rural residents (AOR = 1.20; 0.30-4.75), multigravida (AOR = 2.85; 1.43-5.68), young women (AOR = 2.15; 0.82-5.61), extended families (AOR = 1.19; 0.68-2.10), with infrequent ANC visits (AOR = 4.12; 2.06-8.27), fewer frequent meals (AOR = 1.84; 1.09-3.10) and from food-insecure households (AOR = 3.84; 2.28-6.49) as compared to their counterparts. Consumption of poorly diversified diet was prevalent and associated with dietary diversity was prevalent among women which could be strongly predicted by parity, ante-natal care and food security, which needs to be targeted for interventions.

Determinants of anemia level among reproductive-age women in 29 Sub-Saharan African countries: A multilevel mixed-effects modelling with ordered logistic regression analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the implementation of different nutritional and non-nutritional interventions, 43% of reproductive-age women in Africa suffer from anemia. Recent evidence also shows that none of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are on the track to achieve the nutrition target of 50% anemia reduction by 2030. To date, information on the level of anemia and its determinants among reproductive-age women at the SSA level is limited. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anemia level and its determinants in SSA countries.

METHODS

We used a pooled data of 205,627 reproductive-age women from the recent demographic and health surveys of 29 SSA countries that were conducted between 2010-2021. A multilevel mixed-effects analysis with an ordered logistic regression model was fitted to identify determinants of anemia level and the deviance value was used to select the best-fitted model. First, bivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was done and the proportional odds assumption was checked for each explanatory variable using a Brant test. Finally, in a multivariable multilevel ordinal logistic regression model, a p-value<0.05 and AOR with the corresponding 95% CI were used to identify determinants of anemia level. All analyses were done using Stata version 17 software.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age in SSA was 40.5% [95% CI = 40.2%-40.7%], where 24.8% [95% CI: 24.6%-25.0%], 11.1% [95% CI = 10.9%-11.2%], and 0.8% [95% CI = 0.7%-0.8%] had mild, moderate, and severe anemia, respectively. The prevalence significantly varied from the lowest of 13% in Rwanda to the highest of 62% in Mali, and anemia was found as a severe public health problem (prevalence of ≥ 40%) in 18 countries. The regression result revealed that polygamous marriage, women and husband illiteracy, poor household wealth, shorter birth interval, non-attendance of antenatal care, underweight, unimproved toilet and water facilities, and low community-level women literacy were positively linked with high anemia level. Additionally, the likelihood of anemia was lower in women who were overweight and used modern contraception.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall results showed that anemia among women of reproductive age is a severe public health problem in SSA countries, affecting more than four in ten women. Thus, enhancing access to maternal health services (antenatal care and contraception) and improved sanitation facilities would supplement the existing interventions targeted to reduce anemia. Moreover, strengthening women's education and policies regulating the prohibition of polygamous marriage are important to address the operational constraints.

Iron deficiency, anemia and association with refugee camp exposure among recently resettled refugees: A Canadian retrospective cohort study

Malnutrition and poor health are common among recently resettled refugees and may be differentially associated with pre-migration exposure to refugee camp versus non-camp dwelling. We aimed to investigate the associations of iron deficiency (ID), anemia, and ID anemia (IDA) with pre-migration refugee camp exposure among recently arrived refugees to Canada. To this end, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1032 adult refugees who received care between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, within a specialized refugee health clinic in Calgary, Canada. We evaluated the prevalence, severity, and predictors of ID, anemia, and IDA, stratified by sex. Using multivariable logistic regression, we estimated the association of refugee camp exposure with these outcomes, adjusting for age, months in Canada prior to investigations, global region of origin, and parity. Among female refugees, the prevalence of ID, anemia, and IDA was 25% (134/534), 21% (110/534), and 14% (76/534), respectively; among males, 0.8% (4/494), 1.8% (9/494), and 0% (0/494), respectively. Anemia was mild, moderate, and severe in 55% (60/110), 44% (48/110) and 1.8% (2/110) of anemic females. Refugee camp exposure was not associated with ID, anemia, or IDA while age by year (ID OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.98; anemia OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00; IDA OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99) and months in Canada prior to investigations (ID OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.72-1.01; anemia OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.97; IDA OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.64-1.00) were inversely correlated with these outcomes. ID, anemia, and IDA are common among recently arrived refugee women irrespective of refugee camp exposure. Our findings suggest these outcomes likely improve after resettlement; however, given proportionally few refugees are resettled globally, likely millions of refugee women and girls are affected.

Demographic Characteristics and Risk Factors Affecting the Development of Postpartum Acute Kidney Injury in Somalia: Single-Center Experience

Background and Aim

Although postpartum acute kidney injury (PPAKI) is declining in developing countries, it is still a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine the causes, risk factors, and the outcomes of patients with postpartum acute kidney injury managed at Mogadishu Somali Turkey Training and Research Hospital, in Mogadishu, Somalia over a two years period.

Methods

This study was conducted retrospectively at Mogadishu Somali-Turkey Training and Research Hospital, Somalia's largest teaching and referral hospital. During a two-year period (January 2020 to December 2021), we evaluated women who had acute kidney injury during the postpartum period and were hospitalized in our hospital. The data was also evaluated for postpartum admission day and hospital stay. The requirement for dialysis and the results were documented. Maternal outcomes are categorized as follows: Complete recovery after discharge/follow-up, chronic dependence on hemodialysis and death during admission.

Results

We studied 79 postpartum AKI patients. The mean age of the participants was 28.67 ± 6.14. Most patients (51%) were aged 20-30, followed by 30-40 (29%). According to self-reported comorbidities, most individuals had no history of chronic diseases, 8 (10.1%) had hypertension and 3 (3.8%) had heart failure, and DM and HTN 2(2.5%). The most common causes of PPAKI were eclampsia (24.1%), hemorrhagic shock, intrauterine mortality (16.5%), placenta abruptio and uterine rupture (8.9%). Hemorrhage (5.1%) and placenta previa (2.5%). The patient's outcome was associated with age (p=0.04), platelet (p=0.024), and hospital stay (p=0.009).

Conclusion

Postpartum acute kidney injury is very common in underdeveloped nations. Preeclampsia/Eclampsia, obstetric bleeding, and intrauterine death are the leading causes of postpartum acute kidney injury in Somalia. This tragic scenario may be avoided by providing appropriate antenatal care and raising awareness among Somali women about the benefits of antenatal care provided by public institutions.