Assessment of Obstetric Characteristics Associate with Anemia Disease among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Garowe General Hospital, Somalia

Introduction: Existence of anaemia pregnancy women is when it comes to this hematologic abnormality. Hemoglobin deficiency during pregnancy has serious effect on maternal and fetus development, which could prompt high maternal mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study was to assess obstetric characteristics associate with anemia disease among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Garowe general hospital.

Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 266 pregnant women. Mothers who attended Antenatal Clinic during the study period and who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed and a capillary blood sample was taken. Hemoglobin level was determined by using HemoCue photometer. A structured questionnaire as well as focus group discussions were held in collecting data. Qualitative data was analyzed using a content technique and quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The inferential statistics entailed a bivariate chi-square analysis and odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) computed to find association between independent and dependent variables. The study found that 46% of the pregnant women in the study were anemic. Obstetric characteristics such as the interval or space between births and the abortion history of the mother was significantly associated with anemia disease.

Recommendation: The study recommends that stakeholders including governments, Non-Governmental Oganization and the private sector in Somalia should seek to increase access to iron and folic acid supplements, should increase education on nutrition. In addition, the study recommends that sanitation and access to clean water should also be enhanced. Finally, the study recommends that the underlying socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment and poor housing that lead to anemia should be addressed.