Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Postpartum Anaemia Among Postnatal Women In Dodoma City

ABSTRACT

Background: Over 50% of postpartum women have the risk of developing postpartum anaemia in the world. Postpartum anaemia contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality. In Tanzania, maternal anaemia contributes to 8.8% of all maternal deaths. The prevalence of postpartum anaemia is unknown in the country as little attention is given on it. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum anaemia among postnatal women in Dodoma City, Tanzania.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dodoma City involving 384 respondents who were selected using a simple sampling random technique. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Haemoglobin level, body weight and height were measured by using HemoCue HB201+ analyser, weighing scale and stadiometer respectively. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) v.20 software was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to report frequency distributions for univariate data. Chi square was used to compare the groups for anaemia; bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the prenatal and postnatal maternal characteristics and postpartum anaemia.

Results: Prevalence of postpartum anaemia was found to be 22% (83). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression results indicated that multiple birth (AOR=8.002, CI: 1.965-32.583; P=0.004), Hb