1. Anemia and iron deficiency in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas
- Author
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Engmann, Cyril, Adanu, Richard, Lu, Tsui-Shan, Bose, Carl, and Lozoff, Betsy
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ANEMIA ,IRON deficiency diseases ,PREGNANT women ,GHANAIANS ,FERRITIN ,HEMOGLOBINS ,IRON ,IRON deficiency anemia ,CITY dwellers ,DISEASE prevalence ,CROSS-sectional method - Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and identify risk factors for iron deficiency and anemia in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 452 healthy pregnant women receiving prenatal care in Accra, Ghana, was conducted. A sociodemographic health questionnaire was performed and hematologic parameters were measured. Logistic regression methods were used to identify risk factors for anemia and iron status.Results: Complete data were available for 428 women. Anemia (hemoglobin <11 g/dL) was present in 144 (34%), iron deficiency (ferritin < or =16 microg/L) in 69 (16%), and iron deficiency anemia in 32 (7.5%) women. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for anemia was 3.4 and 9.8 if iron deficiency and malaria parasitemia were present, respectively; the OR was 0.6 if women were at > or =36 weeks of pregnancy. The adjusted OR for iron deficiency was 2.7 if women were at > or =36 weeks of pregnancy and 0.12 if they had sickle trait.Conclusion: Although anemia and iron deficiency remain substantial problems in pregnant Ghanaian women from urban areas, their prevalence is less than previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2008
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