Knowledge about Anemia in Pregnancy among Females Attending Primary Health Care Centers in Baghdad

Zahraa Al-Sattam; Samia Hassan; Bushra Majeed; Zaid Al-Attar

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.8506

Authors

Zahraa Al-Sattam Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Al-Kindy Medical College, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Samia Hassan Minsitry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
Bushra Majeed Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Zaid Al-Attar Department of Pharmacology, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8506

Keywords:

Anemia, Pregnancy, Knowledge, Hemoglobin, Iraq

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In pregnancy, several physiological changes occur that lead to decrease in the level of hemoglobin. Anemia during pregnancy is a major public health concern in underdeveloped nations, with a high rate of morbidity and death among pregnant women. Inadequate prenatal care, a lack of information about the nutritional requirements of pregnant women, and general low socioeconomic circumstances all contribute to these high rates of morbidity and death. As pregnant women’s and husbands’ education levels increased, the frequency and severity of anemia decreased in the investigated community of pregnant women.

AIM: This study aims to find out the level of knowledge about anemia in pregnancy among adult females attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) and to find out if there is any association between sociodemographic characteristics of adult females and knowledge about anemia in pregnancy.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study with analytic component conducted in four PHCCs in Al-Adhamiya Health District during a period of 4 months from December 1, 2020, to April 1, 2021. It included 400 females aged between 18 and 45 years attending the selected PHCCs for any complaint. The data had been collected through the distribution of well-designed questionnaire including two parts: Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge parts.

RESULTS: In this study, overall knowledge score of the participants about anemia in pregnancy showed that 60% had fair knowledge. There were statistically significant associations between knowledge score and age of females, marital status, educational level, occupation, and parity.

CONCLUSION: The majority of Iraqi adult females have fair and acceptable levels of knowledge about anemia in pregnancy. Younger age, being single, low educational level, unemployed, and low parity were associated with worst level of knowledge.

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