THE PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA AT THE FIRST ANTENATAL VISIT IN JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (JUTH); JOS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is the most common pregnancy complication worldwide.
The world Health Organization (W.H.O), estimated that anaemia affects over half of the
pregnant women in developing countries. Prevalence data from many developing
countries are few and inadequate. The absence of studies on the prevalence of the disease
in Jos informed this study.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and some risk factors which predispose
pregnant women to anaemia at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out at
the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and eighty pregnant women at their first
antenatal visit were recruited. Information on socio-demographic, medical and Obstetrics
characteristics of the subjects were collected. Packed cell volume was carried out on each
subject to determine the presence or absence of anaemia. Results of HIV screening,
Genotype, and other routine investigations at booking were collected. Analysis was done
with Epi info 2005, version 3.3.2 statistical software packages. The data of the anaemic
mothers were compared with those of the non-anaemic mothers.
RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy from this study (using WHO
definition) was 45.8%. However, 13.8% had Pcv < 30 % (an accepted cut off in the
tropics). Bivariate analysis revealed 8 statistically significant risk factors, but after
multivariate analysis, adjusting for confounding variables, only 5 factors remained
significantly associated with anaemia in pregnancy in this center. These were: teenage
pregnancy, febrile illness in the index pregnancy, HIV infection, late booking for
antenatal care and history of serious bleeding in the preceding pregnancy.
CONCLUSION: The conclusion was that the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in Jos
is high. It is suggested that preventive measures to tackle the problems of late booking,
teenage pregnancy, febrile illness, HIV infection and haemorrhage in pregnancy will be
helpful in reducing the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy and its health consequences
in this center.

THE PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA AT THE FIRST ANTENATAL VISIT IN JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (JUTH); JOS