Project Materials

LACK OF AWARENESS ON PREVENTION OF ANAEMIA IN PREGNANCY AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL AREA

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, it is estimated that roughly half of all pregnant women are anaemic. In Nigeria, the proportion of pregnant women with anaemia has increased, accounting for approximately 20% of maternal mortality. The purpose of this study was to look into pregnant women’s knowledge and perceptions of the risk of anaemia during pregnancy, as well as adherence to iron supplements in Ibesikpo Asutan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 pregnant women in Ibesikpo Asutan aged 19 to 50 years to determine their knowledge and perceptions of the risk of anaemia during pregnancy, as well as their level of adherence to iron supplements. Data were analysed with STATA version 13. The respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics were presented in tables, and associations between independent variables such as age, marital status, and occupation and the dependent variable knowledge of anaemia risk were investigated. In total, 384 pregnant women were interviewed. The study found that 78% (301) were aware of the risk of anaemia. The majority (43%) of respondents who were aware of the risk of anaemia during pregnancy were between the ages of 21 and 30 years old, with approximately 43% (162) married. The majority (90%) had a positive attitude towards the condition and believed that taking iron supplements was a way to reduce the risk of anaemia in pregnancy. Adherence to iron supplements was high (90%). There was a statistically significant relationship between age and knowledge of anaemia risk (p=0.001), as well as educational level and knowledge of anaemia risk. The study found that pregnant women are highly aware of the risk of anaemia, have positive attitudes towards anaemia, and adhere to iron supplementation.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Pregnancy is almost certainly the most significant physiological stress and major change in the normal biological process to which a woman is subjected throughout her life. Anemia is the most common nutritional problem among women and is on the whole rampant among pregnant women (Admad, Saeid, & Leila, 2008).

However, anaemia is defined as a shorter amount of haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood. It is a shortage in the size or number of red blood cells (RBCs) or the quantity of Hb they contain (Mahan, Escott-Stump & Raymond 2012).

Haemoglobin is a substance in the blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. The most common type of anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, is more often than not caused by low iron intake or absorption and/or excessive iron loss (Thomas & Bishop, 2007).

Iron constitutes an indispensableconstituent of the Hb molecule and nutritional anaemiafallout fromnot enough consumption of iron, protein, vitamin B12, folic acid, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, and copper(Mahan, Escott-Stump & Raymond, 2012).

Anaemia is characterised based on Hb content as hypochromic (pale colour from deficiency of Hb) and normochromic (normal colour),depicted according to cell size as macrocytic (bigger than normal), normocytic (normal), and microcytic (small). Haemoglobin levels change with age, sex, pregnancy, and lifestyle.

Different levels of Hb are considered typically for different categories of people, under which an individual can be classified as anaemic.

For example, the normal Hb level of pregnant women at sea level is 11g/dl or 110g/L. A pregnant woman that hasHb level below 11g/dl or 110g/L is said to be anaemic (WHO, 2008).

According to Ghana Health Service (2004), pregnant woman with anaemia will present with any of the following: angular stomatitis, pallor, glossitis spoon shaped nails, dizziness, exhaustion and shortness of breath.

Reducing this anaemia burden in pregnant women has improved minimally, especially in African countries and Nigeria is no exemption. The episode of anemia as a major public health problem all over the world isextensively recognized.

In developing nations, the occurrence of anemia among pregnant women the averages is 56%, ranging from 35-100% throughout different parts of the world (GHS Annual Report 2004).

globe Health Organization in 2008 estimation, around 500 million women in the globe are iron deficient and in addition anemia affects so many women in the developing world, including two thirds of pregnant women (WHO, 2008).

Anaemia is asignificant public health problem worldwide and the most susceptible group, are pregnant women and children.

The causes of anaemiaconsist of genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, and infectious agents. Of the nutritional causes of anaemia, iron deficiency is perhaps the most common and important because the physiological changes associated with pregnancy put fortha demand for additional iron needed for transfer to the foetus(Webster-Gandy, Madden&Holdsworth, 2012).

Infections, together with malaria, worm infestations are as well involved in the pathogenesis of anaemia in pregnancy.

Pregnant women are on the wholevulnerable to malaria in endemic populations and often have increased prevalence as well as severity including anaemia (Amenger-Glover, Owusu&Akanmori, 2005). The changes in the immune system linkedwith pregnancy have been postulated as the reason mentioned above.

However, worm infestations impede vitamin absorption, making pregnant women more susceptible to anaemia. The materialisation of HIV is another risk factor for anaemia in pregnant women.

A large number of research attempting to discover the reasons of anaemia in pregnancy have focused on specific categories of characteristics such as excessive blood loss and erythrocyte breakdown (Amenger-Glover, Owusu, & Akanmori, 2005).

Globally, anaemia accounts for 20% of all maternal deaths. Severe anaemia adds to maternal morbidity and mortality, albeit the causal link is not always established. Anaemia during pregnancy can also result in early deliveries, low birth weight, foetal damage, and infant death.

Aside from maternity-related difficulties, anaemia has a significant impact on human health and social and economic development.

It has a negative impact on children’s physical and cognitive development, as well as an elevated risk of frailty in community-dwelling older persons (WHO, 2008).