Socio-Demographic Factors and Health Behaviors as Predictors of Anemia Status among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Regional Hospital in Ghana

Introduction: Anemia is a significant public health concern, particularly among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the efforts to mitigate these risks, the prevalence of anemia remains high, and the factors contributing to this condition are poorly understood.

Aim: To assess the Socio-demographic factors and health behaviors as predictors of anemia status among pregnant women in Northern Regional Hospital, Tamale.

Methods: The study employed an analytical cross-sectional design. A total of 250 pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at the Northern Regional Hospital were selected through simple random sampling. Data was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS software. A significance level of p-value less than 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

Results: Most respondents (79.6%) knew the meaning of Anemia, 78.0% believed Anemia could be treated, and 83.2% indicated pregnancy was a high risk of Anemia. More than half of the respondents (59.2%) did not know their Anemia status, with 38.8% being pregnant. The study showed that education level (p=0.001), monthly income (p=0.047), employment status (p=0.009), age at first pregnancy (p=0.002), mode of delivery (p=0.003), and attendance at antenatal care (p=0.031) were significantly associated with anemia status. The study found that lower education levels (odds ratio 0.45, p=0.031) and a monthly income between GHS 500-1500 (odds ratio 0.47, p=0.048) were significantly associated with anemia in pregnant women, while self-employment (odds ratio 0.39, p=0.011) was associated with a lower likelihood of anemia compared to unemployment. Employment status showed a trend towards significance (p=0.053) but was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The study found that while many pregnant women were aware of anemia and its risks, a significant portion was unaware of their anemia status. Lower education, income between GHS 500-1500, and self-employment were significantly linked to anemia. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and education, particularly for women with lower education and income. Improving antenatal care and preventive measures is crucial to addressing anemia in pregnant women.