Anemia in Pregnancy: Urban-Rural Comparison of Management and Prevention Among Women of Child-Bearing Age in Anambra State, Nigeria.

We explored management and prevention practices concerning anemia in pregnancy (AIP) in Anambra State, Nigeria from a cross-sectional survey of 600 women of child-bearing age through a multistage random selection process. The objective is to identify factors that influence recognition and management of AIP. A knowledge index of 45 points was developed with the mean score of 5.9 points (5.9 ± 6.1 SD). Furthermore, 49.3% of the respondents had good knowledge. The urban respondents had good knowledge (66.7%) compared with their rural counterparts (32%). There were misconceptions on the causes, management, and prevention of AIP during pregnancy. Multiple regression analyses revealed that variables such as religious affiliation, education, and residence influenced the knowledge about AIP. A unit increase in the educational level of the women will bring about 0.644 units of increase in the knowledge of AIP ( p = .003). A unit change from urban to rural locality would lead to 1.536 units increase in correct practices to prevent AIP ( p < .001). A unit change to being married would lead to 0.936 unit increase in correct practices to prevent AIP ( p = .025). Knowledge about the management and prevention of AIP was poor. Anemia-related education to improve knowledge and practice should be provided during antenatal care. Living in an urban community was associated with the odds ratio of 4.3 (95% CI [3.07, 6.07]) and 7.42 (95% CI [2.0, 27.6]) for knowledge and prevention of AIP, respectively.

Anaemia is typical of pregnancies: capturing community perception and management of anaemia in pregnancy in Anambra State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia during pregnancy continues to constitute significant challenge to maternal health in Nigeria and contributes substantially to the worsening maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Nigeria despite a global reduction in MMR in response to effort to improve safe motherhood. The incidence of anaemia during pregnancy is still high (>40 %) in Nigeria, and attitudes and management practices are yet unclear as the peoples' understanding of the phenomenon remains unclear. This study explored the perceptions/attitudes on anaemia during pregnancy and practices to prevent and/or manage it in Anambra State. METHODS: In-depth interview and focus group discussion data were collected from health workers and mothers who delivered within 6 months preceding the study and from mothers and husbands of women who delivered within 6 months preceding the study, respectively. RESULTS: The people expressed some knowledge of anaemia, being common in pregnancies. However, some expressed the view that anaemia being a typical sign of pregnancy cannot be prevented. Some mothers expressed desire for focused antenatal care services to control anaemia but lamented the attitude of the health workers, who make access to these interventions difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Control of anaemia in pregnancy should start with providing health education to pregnant women and their partners, who reinforce what the women are told during antenatal care, and with training health workers for friendlier attitudes to clients.