Factors associated with anaemia among women of reproductive age in rural Uganda

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies continue to impose a substantial health, economic and social burden worldwide. Anaemia is a major public health problem affecting both the developed as well as the developing countries. It is the most common nutritional deficiency disorder in the world. This study was conducted to assess the factors associated with anaemia among women of reproductive age in rural Uganda. The study used secondary data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey dataset. A sample of 4446 females that were interviewed aged between 15- 49 years was used. Data were analyzed using Stata 14 frequency distributions and Pearson’s Chi-square test was used for descriptive data analysis. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. The Study results show that 33% females in rural Uganda were anaemic. Results of the study indicated that anaemia was significantly associated with age, region, marital status, education, type of toilet facility and pregnancy status. The odds of anaemia were lower among women aged 25-29 years (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.85) and had attained primary education (OR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.62-0.94). The odds were however higher among women in the Northern region (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.05-1.93), who were widowed/divorced/separated (OR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.15-2.08), with unimproved toilet facilities (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.53) and currently pregnant (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.69). There should be strengthening of family planning interventions should to prevent early pregnancy especially among the adolescents through reaching out to adolescents in school and also those out of school. Implementation of information, education and communication as well as counselling practices in the community to promote anaemia reduction. In addition, Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes should be adopted to ensure basic hygiene and reduce the risk of infection. Furthermore, all women of reproductive age should take deworming medicine, Intermittent preventive treatment doses of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine to prevent malaria and blood loss, iron and folic acid supplementation increase iron and blood supply to prevent anaemia. Widowed, Separated and unmarried women should be empowered economically to prevent them from daily and risky activities such as unprotected sex which results in unintended pregnancies and further non-medical abortion that can lead to over bleeding. This is done to prevent anaemia.