ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, prenatal anemia is a major public health concern affecting both the health of the woman and babies. The World Health Organization recommends to conduct repeated prevalence studies concerning prenatal anemia . However, there is no recent evidence on the magnitude of the prenatal anemia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of prenatal anemia among women attending the Antenatal Care Clinic at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 362 participants from June 03-July 08, 2017, at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. The systematic random sampling technique was employed. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening was conducted. Nutritional status of the participants was assessed. Blood sample was collected by capillary tube . Intestinal parasite was examined by stool wet mount test. HIV serostatus was detected. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentration below 11 g/dl. The multivariable logistic regression model was employed to identify associated factors and to control the possible effects of confounders. RESULT: The prevalence of anemia was 22.2% (95% CI: 18.11, 27.1%). The highest odds of anemia were observed among pregnant women with family size of >five [AOR = 3 (95% CI: 1.03, 8.65)], unprotected water source users, [AOR = 4.09 (95% CI: 1.75, 9.55)], HIV infected [AOR = 2.94(95% CI: 1.37, 6.35)], and multigravida women [AOR = 3.5 (95% CI: 1.35, 9.17)]. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women attending the University of Gondar Referral Hospital was a moderate public health problem. Unprotected water source, large family size, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, and repeated pregnancies were factors that predicted anemia. Thus, prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, family planning utilization, and accessing pure water are recommended.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Gondar Town, northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select study participants. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify associated factors. RESULTS: The prevalences of wasting and stunting were 6.8% and 45.7%, respectively. Higher odds of wasting were observed among children whose fathers were daily laborers (AOR = 2.63), children who had eating problem (AOR = 2.96), and those who were not exclusively breast-fed for the first six months (AOR = 5.63). Similarly, higher odds of stunting were found among female children (AOR = 1.65), children who lived in households having four to six families (AOR = 2.14), and children who did not start breast-feeding within one hour of birth (AOR = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Childhood undernutrition was a significant problem. Child eating problem, paternal occupation, and exclusive breast-feeding were associated with wasting, whereas family size, child sex, and breast-feeding initiation time were associated with stunting. Therefore, strengthening of early initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, promoting healthcare seeking behavior, and designing social support programme for poor family are recommended to reduce undernutrition.
