Assessment of Anaemia and Dietary Intake of Pregnant Women in Ikwuano Local Government Area Abia State Nigeria
Globally, about two hundred million people suffer from anaemia every year with the highest prevalence rates found among women of reproductive age, infants and young children especially those of poor socioeconomic status. The study is a cross sectional study conducted among 400 pregnant women in Ikwuano LGA. The prevalence of anaemia was assessed using biochemical method. Nutritional and socio economic information was gathered using interview method. About 20.8% of the pregnant women were below 20 years, 60.5% were within the age range of 2030 years, 17.3% and 1.4% were 31 40 and above 40 years respectively. Majority (80.3% were married, 11.8% were single, and very few (2.3% were divorced. Most women (91.2% were in their first trimester, and only a few (8.8% respondents were in their second trimester. The research indicated that the prevalence of anaemia was 54.9% among the pregnant women with 16.0% mildly anaemic (10.0 9.9g/dl) 32.5% moderately anaemic (9.9 7.0g/dl) and 6.5% severely anaemic (below 7g/dl) There was no significant relationship between the age of the respondents and anaemia (p=0.173) a significant relationship existed between occupation and anaemia (p=0.002) household size and anaemia (p= 0.000) monthly income and anaemia (p= 0.058) and also a significant relationship existed between age of pregnancy and anaemia (p=0.000) The socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents influenced their anaemia status. There is high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in Ikwuano Local government Area, Abia State. The prevalence of anaemia was higher in poorly educated women, women with large family size, and those who had poor income.