Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anemia is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, particularly during pregnancy, and it has adverse effects on mother and fetus/baby. OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Jigjiga public health facilities, Somali Region, East Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based unmatched case-control study was conducted. The sample size was 228 pregnant women; comprising 114 presenting with anemia and 114 controls. Hemoglobin levels were measured using a portable heme analyzer. Socio-demographic, dietary, medical history, and nutrition-related data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epidata 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 for cleaning and analyses. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed and statistical significance was considered at a level of p<0.05. RESULTS: Three predictors of anemia among pregnant women were identified in this study. An inadequate intake of red meat (i.e. those who consumed red meat 1-2 times a month [AOR=7.245; 95% CI=(2.007-26.151)] or not at all [AOR=8.690; 95% CI=(1.795-42.072)]), and insufficient consumption of green vegetables (i.e. 1-2 times a week [AOR=2.970; 95% CI=(1.012-8.716)] or 1-2 times a month [AOR=8.057; 95% CI=(2.358-27.526)]) were associated with anemia. Also, having a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of less than 23 cm was strongly associated [AOR=16.432; 95% CI= (5.240-51.526)] with anemia. CONCLUSION: This study revealed three key factors to be associated with anemia among pregnant women in Jigjiga Town, namely reduced intake of red meat and green vegetables, and low MUAC. Interventions including nutrition counselling and enrolling pregnant women with low nutritional status in nutritional programs should be the core components of anemia control strategies, needed to address the high prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in developing countries.