Prevalence of Maternal Anemia in Southern Jordan: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study and 5-Year Review

Abstract

Background: The literature underrepresents maternal anemia in southern Jordan, and national studies often have small sample sizes. According to the 2019 Jordan National Micronutrient Survey, maternal anemia in Jordan accounted for 19.1% of cases, with the majority experiencing mild anemia (17.1%). Among the 29 pregnant women recruited from the southern region, 56.5% had anemia, of which 34.8% had mild and 21.7% had moderate anemia. The current study provides an update on the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in southern Jordan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a government referral hospital in southern Jordan. Pregnant women who visited outpatient clinics were included in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, and blood samples were collected to measure hemoglobin levels. Descriptive analyses of continuous and categorical variables were performed. Maternal anemia risk factors were assessed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was defined at p < 0.05. Results: Of the 474 pregnant women who agreed to participate, 36.8% had anemia. Education, income, diet (number of meals and meat consumption), regularity of antenatal care, and supplement use were factors that significantly affected hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05). The adolescent pregnancy rate was 5.3%, and 48% had mild to moderate anemia. Conclusions: Maternal anemia rates in southern Jordan remained high, despite a slow decline. Reducing this burden requires improved access to healthcare and health education, particularly for rural residents who are at greater risk of disease.

Keywords: Jordan; adolescent pregnancy; anemia; antenatal care; maternal health; pregnancy.

Figure 1

Prevalence and degrees of anemia among the respondents.

Figure 2

Prevalence and degree of anemia among pregnant adolescents.