[Anemia in pregnancy: characteristics in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, Hungary]

Factors affecting anaemia among women of reproductive age in Nepal: a multilevel and spatial analysis

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting anaemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Nepal using spatial and multilevel epidemiological analysis.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study analysed data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. Spatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS software V.10.8 to identify the hot and cold spots of anaemia among WRA (15-49 years). Data were analysed using multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis.

SETTING

Nepal.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 6414 WRA were included in the analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Anaemia defined by WHO as haemoglobin level less than 120 g/L in non-pregnant women and less than 110 g/L in pregnant women.

RESULTS

The spatial analysis showed that statistically significant hotspots of anaemia were in the southern Terai region (four districts in province 1, eight districts in province 2, one district in Bagmati province, two districts in province 5 and one district in Sudurpaschim province) of Nepal. At the individual level, women who underwent female sterilisation (adjusted OR, aOR: 3.61, 95% CI 1.10 to 11.84), with no education (aOR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.39), and from middle socioeconomic class families (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.68) were more likely to be anaemic, whereas, older women (>35 years) (aOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.97) and those women who were using hormonal contraceptives (aOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.90) were less likely to be anaemic. At the community level, women from province 2 (aOR=2.97, 95% CI: 1.52 to 5.82) had higher odds of being anaemic.

CONCLUSION

WRA had higher odds of developing anaemia, and it varied by the geographical regions. Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions can be tailored based on the factors identified in this study to curb the high burden of anaemia.

Effect of oral contraception on anemia in 12 low- and middle-income countries

CONTEXT

In low- and middle-income countries, anemia is a major public health issue in women of reproductive age for a series of factors including iron deficiency.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate prevalence of anemia and to assess the association of low level of hemoglobin versus duration of use of oral contraceptives (OC).

METHODS

Demographic and Health Surveys of 12 countries, conducted between 2005 and 2012, were analyzed. The status of anemia was separately evaluated for nonpregnant women using OC for at least 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, and for women using no method of contraception and/or using nonhormonal contraception.

RESULTS

The total study population comprised 201,720 women, with 40% diagnosed with anemia; around 1 out of 25 women was using oral contraception. The current and continuous use of oral contraception was of benefit against anemia, with the risk for anemia decreasing from odds ratio (OR) 0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-0.73] for use of at least 6 months to OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.52-0.61) for use of at least 1 year and to OR 0.50 (95% CI 0.46-0.54) for use of at least 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings reinforce evidence of the noncontraceptive benefit of long-term use of OC and provide valuable information for policy makers, family planning staff and clinicians working in low- and middle-income countries in efforts to control anemia.

Differentials in the prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women in Bangladesh: multilevel logistic regression analysis of data from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

Background

Anemia is one of the most common public health problems globally, and high prevalence has been reported among women of reproductive age, especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to evaluate differentials in the prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, and to examine associations with demographic, socioeconomic, and nutritional factors.

Methods

Data for this cross-sectional study were taken from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). In a sub-sample of one-third of the households, all ever-married women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) were selected for the biomarker component of the survey, including anemia. The sample size for our study was 5,293. Data were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women was 41.3 % (urban: 37.2 % and rural: 43.5 %). Among anemic women, 35.5 % had mild anemia, 5.6 % had moderate anemia, and 0.2 % had severe anemia. Women with no education were more likely to be anemic than those with secondary education (p < 0.01) or higher education (p < 0.01). Undernourished women (BMI < 18.5) were at greater risk of anemia (p < 0.01) compared with normal women, overweight women, and obese women. Anemia was less pronounced among non-pregnant women using contraception (p < 0.05), Muslim women (p < 0.01), and women living in rich households (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women in Bangladesh is high. Illiteracy, poverty, and undernutrition are contributing factors.