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ANAEMIA IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN DAR-ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA
Abstract
Background: Anaemia is among the greatest health problems in reproductive age women
in developing countries.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of anaemia among non-pregnant parous women,
and to investigate the main underlying cause for the anaemia.
Setting: A sub-urban Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCH) in Dar es Salaam.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Methods: Consecutive parous non-pregnant women who had brought their children for
vaccination and /or had come for family planning to Mbagala MCH clinic were invited
to participate in the study. Obstetric and social history was recorded, and their height
and weight were checked. Haemoglobin was measured using HemoCue hemoglobinometer.
Anaemic women were further investigated to determine the cause of anaemia by
haematological and biochemical tests.
Results: Five hundred and four parous non-pregnant women were screened, 49% were
anaemic (Hb <12 g/dl) and 1.6% severely anaemic (Hb <7 g/dl). Anaemia was not related
to socio-demographic and obstetric history characteristics, but decreased significantly
with increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.042). The prevalence of anaemia was
significantly lower in women using hormonal contraceptives, compared to non-users
(36% vs 54%) (p=0.04). Eighty-seven percent of the anaemic women were iron deficient
and 8.7% had elevated serum C-reactive protein indicating undiagnosed infections.
Conclusion: Nutritional deficiencies in women have to be corrected before and between
pregnancies and all contacts women have with the health system should be utilised for
anaemia control interventions, in addition to long-term community approaches. To
improve maternal health calls for a broader agenda and a change of approach in the
MCH-clinics.
in developing countries.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of anaemia among non-pregnant parous women,
and to investigate the main underlying cause for the anaemia.
Setting: A sub-urban Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCH) in Dar es Salaam.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Methods: Consecutive parous non-pregnant women who had brought their children for
vaccination and /or had come for family planning to Mbagala MCH clinic were invited
to participate in the study. Obstetric and social history was recorded, and their height
and weight were checked. Haemoglobin was measured using HemoCue hemoglobinometer.
Anaemic women were further investigated to determine the cause of anaemia by
haematological and biochemical tests.
Results: Five hundred and four parous non-pregnant women were screened, 49% were
anaemic (Hb <12 g/dl) and 1.6% severely anaemic (Hb <7 g/dl). Anaemia was not related
to socio-demographic and obstetric history characteristics, but decreased significantly
with increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.042). The prevalence of anaemia was
significantly lower in women using hormonal contraceptives, compared to non-users
(36% vs 54%) (p=0.04). Eighty-seven percent of the anaemic women were iron deficient
and 8.7% had elevated serum C-reactive protein indicating undiagnosed infections.
Conclusion: Nutritional deficiencies in women have to be corrected before and between
pregnancies and all contacts women have with the health system should be utilised for
anaemia control interventions, in addition to long-term community approaches. To
improve maternal health calls for a broader agenda and a change of approach in the
MCH-clinics.
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