Determinants of Anemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care

Siti Fatimah, Siti Rohmah, Eet Sumiati

Abstract

Anemia during pregnancy remains a major maternal health problem because it increases the risk of adverse outcomes for mothers and infants. This study aimed to identify determinants of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care. This study used an analytical cross-sectional design based on aggregated maternal health data from 50 pregnant women in Sukamulya Village, Ciamis, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 25 pregnant women with anemia and 25 pregnant women without anemia. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin level below 11 g/dL. The variables analyzed were maternal age, education, occupation, gestational age, parity, mid-upper arm circumference, iron tablet adherence, number of antenatal care visits, and pregnancy interval. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratios for selected two-category variables. The results showed that maternal age and pregnancy interval were significantly associated with anemia. Education, occupation, gestational age, parity, nutritional status based on mid-upper arm circumference, iron tablet adherence, and antenatal care visits were not significantly associated with anemia in this dataset. Although low mid-upper arm circumference and non-adherence to iron tablets showed higher odds of anemia, these associations did not reach statistical significance. These findings indicate that maternal age and pregnancy interval should receive greater attention in antenatal anemia screening, while nutritional assessment and iron tablet counseling should continue as essential components of anemia prevention during pregnancy.

Keywords

anemia; antenatal care; pregnancy; maternal age; pregnancy interval

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References

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25157/ihc.v2i1.25007

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