Sociodemographic and Obstetric Characteristics of Anaemic Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Bolgatanga Regional Hospital

Abstract

The study determined the sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women which contribute to the risk of developing anaemia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Antenatal Clinic. Anaemia was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with younger maternal age, parity, gravidity, trimester of pregnancy, and source of drinking water. Multivariate logistic regression identified the following factors with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI): unemployment (aOR = 4.76 (CI: 2.26-11.33); p < 0.0001), rural dwelling (aOR = 3.10 (CI: 2.16-4.91); p = 0.0071), primigravida (aOR = 2.13 (CI: 1.34-3.18); p = 0.0201), nulliparity (aOR = 1.92 (CI: 1.23-2.86); p = 0.0231), first antenatal visit at second trimester (aOR = 1.71 (CI: 1.33-3.12); p = 0.0149) and first antenatal visit at third trimester (aOR = 2.73 (CI: 1.24-4.35); p = 0.0017), drinking from well and boreholes (aOR = 2.78 (CI: 2.27-5.21); p < 0.0001), and the presence of domestic livestock (aOR = 2.15 (CI: 1.33-3.68); p = 0.0019). This study has shown the various sociodemographic and obstetric factors which significantly contribute to anaemia in pregnancy.