Factors influencing the use of anemia preventing measures among antenatal clinic attendees in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Anemia in pregnancy is a key public health problem worldwide. It results from a wide variety of causes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended specific measures to help prevent anemia during pregnancy, which countries are required to integrate into their antenatal care. This study was designed to determine the factors influencing the use of anaemia preventing measures among antenatal clinic attendees in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana. A cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending the clinics after 36 weeks of pregnancy. Demographic data and information on use of all interventions were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The factors associated with the use of the interventions were identified using multiple logistic regression. The use of all anemia preventing interventions among pregnant women was found to be 30%. The study identified that use of all anemia preventing measures among pregnant women is quite low. Provision of antihelmithics to pregnant women and their health education on the benefits of the use of anaemia preventing measures would help increase the usage of the interventions.

Keywords: Anemia in pregnancy, anemia prevention in pregnancy, Kintampo North, Ghana