Modern Contraceptive Methods Predict Hemoglobin Levels Among Women of Childbearing Age from DHS 2016.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to study the association of different modern contraceptive methods and anemia on women of childbearing age. METHODS: The study was conducted based on secondary data from Ethiopia demographic and health surveys (EDHS) in 2016. The study included 12,981, women of childbearing age. The dependent variable is anemia which was defined based on the level of hemoglobin concentration, and was classified as non-anemic (above 12 g/dL) or anemic (below 12 g/dL). The association between anemia with modern contraceptive method and BMI was analyzed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 12,891 non-pregnant women were recruited for this study, 26.3% (95% CI: 25.9 to 27.1) had anemia, and hemoglobin level was 12.9 ± 1.7. The current use of modern contraceptives has substantially reduced the odds of anemia by 50% compared with non-users. Compared to barrier methods, individual modern contraceptive use showed higher odds ratio of, oral contraceptive pills (OCP) 0.6 (95% CI: 0.45 to 1.12), injectables 0.59 (95% CI: 0.24 to 1.79), implant 0.72 (95% CI: 0.60 to 0.86) and significantly reduces the risk of anemia. In addition to the contraceptive method, BMI found to improve anemia and the underweight women showed significant effect on an anemia (OR 2.20 (95% CI 1.58-2. 62)) P = 0.000. CONCLUSION: The use of hormonal contraceptive methods reduces anemia among women of childbearing age. Moreover, there is an association between BMI and anemia.

Dietary condition and feeding practices of children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia: analysis of 2005-2016 demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: Childhood malnutrition is well estimated as the major underlying risk factor for morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years. Feeding practices greatly influence the dietary condition of children aged 6-23 months in developing countries. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the association between infant young children feeding (IYCF) practices and the dietary conditions of children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data on 5638 children aged 6-23 months from three Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) (2005, 2011, 2016). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stunting and anaemia with IYCF practices. RESULT: The prevalence of stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia decreased greatly from 49% in 2005 to 32% in 2016. Among the IYCF practices, consumption of iron-rich foods, minimum dietary diversity (MDD), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were significant predictors of stunting. In addition, the prevalence of anaemia declined significantly from 26% in 2005 to 16% in 2011, but increased to 29% in 2016. Among the IYCF practices, breastfeeding and minimum meal frequency (MMF) had lower odds of childhood anaemia. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that anaemia and stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia is critical public health problems that need urgent attention.

Gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain predicts fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) are salient predictors of pregnancy-outcomes. However, findings on the association between GDM, BMI, and GWG with fetal growth measures are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GDM on fetal growth measures and birth outcomes. METHODS: All participants came from Tongji Maternal and Child health cohort, in which pregnant women were enrolled before 16 weeks of gestation and had their weights measured regularly during antenatal visits. GDM was diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during 24-28 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound measurements of fetal bi-parietal diameters (BPD), head circumferences (HC), abdominal circumferences (AC) and femur length (FL) before birth were collected and neonate outcomes were obtained from the hospital records. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression to assess the association of GDM, pre-pregnancy BMI, and GWG with fetal growth measures of ultrasound and birth outcomes, while controlling confounding. RESULTS: Of 3253 singleton pregnant women, 293 (9.0%) were diagnosed with GDM, 357 (11.0%) were overweight before pregnancy, and 1995 (61.3%) had excessive GWG. GDM was associated with decreased intrauterine fetal growth measurements including BPD and AC. Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight was associated with increased fetal HC and neonatal birth weight and length, women gained excessive GWG had increased fetal growth measurements of BPD, HC, AC, FL, neonatal birth weight and length. Offspring of GDM women had increased odds of cesarean section 1.31 (1.03, 1.66) and preterm birth 2.02 (1.05, 3.91) in unadjusted models, but these associations disappeared after adjustment. Compared with neonate born to mothers with normal pre-pregnancy weight, those born to underweight mother had higher risk of SGA, and lower risk of cesarean section, LGA and macrosamia, whereas those born to overweight mother had increased risk of cesarean section, LGA and macrosamia. Compared with neonate born to mothers of adequate GWG, neonate of women with excessive GWG had elevated risk of cesarean section, LGA and macrosamia, but lower risk of preterm birth and SGA. CONCLUSION: Pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and GDM all associated with fetal growth and birth outcomes. The effect of GDM decreased after adjusting pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG. Early screening and management of GDM, preventing excessive GWG could help protect fetuses of GDM mothers from adverse birth outcomes.