Burden and determinants of post-partum anaemia in Mariakani Sub-county Hospital
Abstract
Introduction: Anaemia in the postpartum period is a common public health problem, but there
is a paucity of studies regarding anaemia in the post-partum period. This problem has been
relatively neglected, yet a new mother may enter the post-partum period having exhausted her
iron stores through pregnancy and childbirth. Prevention and treatment of anaemia in postpartum women is essential for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, improving quality of
life, as well as improving work performance.
Objectives: To find out the burden and determinants of anaemia at the post-partum period in
Mariakani sub-county hospital.
Methodology: Cross sectional study, where a total of 323 women attending mother and child
health clinic about the sixth week post-partum at Mariakani sub-county hospital were recruited in
to the study. Their management for anaemia during antenatal period was assessed using antenatal
care records followed by a haemoglobin estimation using the prick method; those found to be
anaemic by World health organization criteria had further investigations of blood slide for
malaria parasites, stool test, and a complete blood count.
Data analysis: Data analysis was conducted to determine strength of association between
dependent and independent variables using Chi-square test for categorical variables. All
statistical tests were performed at 5% significance level (95% confidence interval).
Results: The prevalence of post-partum anaemia was 16.4%.Longer durations of haematinic use
was protective against postnatal anaemia (p < 0.001), as was the case for repeated IPT
administration (p < 0.001). Most anaemic patients (74%) had used haematinics for 1-2 months
while 57% of the non-anaemic patients had used haematinic for a longer duration of between 2
and 3 months. The risk of anaemia in mothers with no ANC or delivery complications was 0.2
times lower than that of mothers with complications (OR=0.2; 95% CI 0.04-0.8). The risk of
anaemia was twelve fold higher in non-facility delivery (OR=12.1; 95% CI 1.5-99.9) compared
to facility delivery. Similarly the risk of anaemia increased ten times in mothers initiating ANC
care during third trimester compared to first or second trimester (OR=10.5;95% CI 5.3-20.9).
Conclusion: The duration of haematinic use in pregnancy, repeated IPT dosing, health facility
delivery and early initiation of antenatal clinic have been shown by this study to be important
strategies in prevention of Post-partum anaemia.
Publisher
University of Nairobi