Do Women in Rural South-West Nigeria Become Pregnant with Sub-optimal Haemoglobin Concentrations?
Adewumi Adediran *
Department of Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Benjamen Carson Snr School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
Tamunomieibi Wakama
Department of Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Benjamen Carson Snr School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
Adesola Oyelese
Department of Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Benjamen Carson Snr School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
Daniel Ogbaro
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Adeola Adetola
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan, Remo, Ogun State Nigeria.
Ibironke Awodele
Department of Haematology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
Abidoye Gbadegesin
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Chimezie Mbah
Department of Haematology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.
Sunday Ocheni
Department of Haematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Anaemia is a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. In a previous study on determinants of prenatal anaemia, we found out that the majority of our respondents had dietary iron intake below the recommended value of 27mg∕day and all of them belonged to low socio-economic class. We opined that many of our respondents could have become pregnant with sub-optimal haemoglobin concentrations.
Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and the socio-economic determinants of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in our community.
Materials and Methods: The study which was descriptive and cross-sectional, involved two hundred consenting non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information and 24-hr dietary recall data which was used to determine the dietary diversity score (DDS) and daily dietary iron intake (DDI). Using a finger prick, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of each respondent was determined with a Haemoglobinometer DG-300HB. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 32.04±8.99 years while the age range was 18-43years. The mean and range of Hb concentrations were 11.77±1.02 g∕dL and 8-16.67 g∕dL respectively. The prevalence of anaemia obtained from this study was 54% (mean 11.77 SD1.02). The prevalence of anaemia was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. There was a statistically significant association between Hb concentration and body mass index (BMI) p=0.009. Of the 200 respondents, 193 (96.5%) had inadequate dietary iron intake (<18mg/day). There was statistically significant association between Hb groupings and daily dietary iron (DDI) intake. P=0.003. With a mean of 2.96±0.95 food groups and range of 1.0-5.0 food groups, 95 % of respondents had low DDS (< 5 food groups). Hb concentration was also significantly associated with DDS as only 1(20%) of 5 respondents that had adequate DDS had Hb concentration below cut-off value.
Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age was high in the community studied making it possible for majority of them to enter pregnancy with sub-optimal Hb concentration. The prevalence was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. The majority of the respondents had inadequate DDS and daily DDI.
Keywords: Anaemia, haemoglobin concentration, women of reproductive age, dietary diversity score