SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF ANAEMIA IN ANAEMIC PREGNANT WOMEN IN HIGH-PREVALENCE REGIONS OF NIGER

Abstract

 Introduction: Anaemia in disadvantaged pregnant women is a major public health problem in most sub-Saharan African countries in general and in Niger in particular, where its prevalence is above the WHO severity threshold of 40%. Methods: The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to determine the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Niger. After consultation, each woman was tested for anaemia by measuring her hemoglobin level systematically with a haemoglobinometer of the HemoCue Hb 301 type, followed by an individual interview if her hemoglobin level was <11g/dl. Results: The results showed that anaemia was more prevalent in pregnant women with an average age of 25.4 years, no schooling (71.3%), no income-generating activity (92.9%), an average household size of 7.9 peoples, living in monogamous households (73.4%), in a family (55.8%) and living in traditional homes (89.5%). Anaemia is more prevalent among women where the seasonal migration is the main source of household income (33.2%). The average total expenditure on food was 96.34 $/household/month, or 12.20 $/person/month. The factors significantly associated with anaemia in pregnant women were household size (p=0.007) and origin (p=0.00). Significant relationships were also observed between anaemia and expenditure on staple foods, and between anaemia and expenditure on foods of animal origin, condiments, and breakfasts and snacks, with P-values greater than 0.05. Conclusion: the factors significantly associated with anaemia in pregnant women were household size, origin and expenditure on food consumption for staple foods, animal products and breakfast and snacks. However, there was no relationship between the age, level of education, profession, religion, ethnic origin or economic activities of the heads of household and anaemia, and between anaemia and living conditions