A comparative study of pregnancy outcome in anaemic and non-anaemic women attending government health facilities in St. Ann, Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Worldwide 50 percent of pregnant women are reported to be anaemic, with 18.6 percent and 14.6 percent anaemic during 1998 in Jamaica and St. Ann respectively. A study was designed to describe and compare pregnancy outcome for 176(11 match)women with and without anaemia on first visit to antenatal clinic attending government health facilities in St. Ann during 1998, and to assess and compare the physical growth and developmental milestones in 46(11 match) of their offspring at various age intervals. Sources from which data were obtained were secondary (records), primary (community visits) and qualitative (focus group). The hypotheses proposed were that (1) anaemic women have poorer pregnancy outcome that non-anaemic women, (2) babies born to anaemic women have slower growth and development milestones and (3) the problem of anaemia in pregnancy persist due to poor knowledge, attitude and practices among pregnant women. Significant differences found between pregnancy outcome of the groups being compared were mean first visit ... Weight of babies assessed was lower for the anaemic group (P,0.01); mom's age for babies assessed in the community were lower of the anaemic group (p<0.02); and babies born to anaemic women were 3.8 times more likely to be stunted i.e. low length for age (p,0.05). Mean age for first pregnancy was lower for the anaemic group (p<0.05). From the qualitative data it was found that only a few of the pregnant women were knowledgeable about anaemia. Most had positive attitudes towards taking iron supplements but did not seem to practice it as expected. These findings have implications for the level of health and nutrition education offered in government health facilities and the educational level of women in the society. Health measures taken in pregnancy and early life have potential long-term effectiveness and health impact. Haemoglobin levels of pregnant women need to be assessed at the ANC for each trimesters of pregnancy to ensure appropriate and early interventions. More research is needed to assess impact of anaemia on women during lacation, and also on the later growth, development and academic attainment of children born to anaemic women (AU)