Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anemia is a major public health problem among reproductive‑aged women in India.
Despite many programs implemented for decades to fight anemia, still the prevalence of anemia is
high because its associated factors vary among different regions. This exploratory study was carried
out to find the prevalence of anemia and factors influencing it among nonpregnant reproductive‑aged
women (15–49 years) in a rural area of Coimbatore.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the field practice area of Rural Health
Training Centre, PSG IMSR, Coimbatore, during March 2016 to August 2016. Participants were
recruited by two‑staged random sampling method and 426 participants were enrolled. A predesigned
semi‑structured questionnaire was used to collect the data pertaining to the factors influencing the
prevalence of anemia, and their hemoglobin level was measured using a hemoglobin photometer.
The data were analyzed using SPSS‑24. (IBM Corporation, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) Univariate
analysis was done using Chi‑square test and the strength of association was estimated by odds
ratio. Those factors which were found to be significant by univariate analysis were further subjected
to multivariate logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was estimated as 64.8% (95% confidence interval: 60%–69%).
Significant predictors for anemia among the study participants were less frequent intake of green
leafy vegetables (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.65, confidence interval [CI]: 2.17–6.12), low
socioeconomic status (AOR = 3.36, CI: 1.93–5.84), illiteracy (AOR = 3.09, CI: 1.09–5.24), birth
spacing <2 years (AOR = 2.49, CI: 1.19–5.25), excessive menstrual bleeding (AOR = 2.27, CI:
1.09–4.76), and inadequate knowledge regarding anemia (AOR = 2.03, CI: 1.19–3.44).
CONCLUSION: Anemia is still prevalent in high magnitude in reproductive‑aged women, and
measures to prevent and control it are not optimum. Hence, its multifactorial determinants have to
be addressed to alleviate its burden.
Keywords
Worldwide prevalence of anaemia, WHO Vitamin and Mineral
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