Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women in Sana’a, Yemen

Objectives: According to the World Health Organization estimates, approximately half of the pregnant women suffer from anemia worldwide. Anemia prevalence during pregnancy ranges from 18% in developed countries to 75% in South Asia. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women in the second and third trimesters in Sho’ub District of Sana’a City, Yemen. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years. Convenience sampling method was used to select the study participants. Information on the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional and health status was collected using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview with participants. The hemoglobin level measurements were assessed using the Sysmex analyzer. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were utilized. Results: The prevalence of anemia among study participants was 25%; of which 70.83% had mild anemia, 28.13% had moderate anemia, and only 1.04% had severe anemia. Risk factors associated with anemia were low family monthly income (odds ratio [OR] = 0.357, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.215–0.590; p =0.001), short pregnancy spacing (OR = 3.106, 95% CI = 1.375–7.016; p = 0.06), never consumed liver (OR = 3.004; 95% CI = 1.528-5.790; p =0.001), and presence of health problems (OR = 2.260; 95% CI = 1.342–3.806; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Findings of the study revealed a high prevalence rate of anemia (25%) among pregnant women in Sana’a, Yemen, with low socioeconomic status, short pregnancy intervals, and having other health problems were the associated factors of anemia among the women studied. The findings suggest the need for implementing effective preventive strategies, especially advocacy and monitoring of the iron and folic acid supplementation.