Prevalence And Risk Fctors Of Anaemia Among Women Of Reproductive Age In A Ghanaian University

Marina Aferiba Tandoh; Winifred Opoku Agyemang; Emmanuella  Takyi Brago; Samuel Selorm Attu; Emmanuel Asare Domfeh

doi:10.4314/just.v42i4.1892

Marina Aferiba Tandoh Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3581-8879
Winifred Opoku Agyemang Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0230-3355
Emmanuella Takyi Brago Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0226-6513
Samuel Selorm Attu Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6284-1476
Emmanuel Asare Domfeh University of Ghana and King's College London

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v42i4.1892

Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Risk Factors, Women of Reproductive Age, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Anaemia is a clinical condition that results in the reduction of haemoglobin levels in the body and affects 33% of women of reproductive age worldwide (about 613 million women between 15 and 49 years of age). In Ghana, the occurrence of anaemia is reported to be 66% in children between the ages of 6 and 59 months, and 42% among women of reproductive age. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among women of reproductive age at a Ghanaian University.
Method: Two hundred and six non-pregnant women aged 15–40 years, randomly selected from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, participated in this cross-sectional study. Data on socio-demographics, anthropometrics, dietary diversity scores and information on monthly blood flow (menstruation) and anaemia awareness were collected. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels, oxygen saturation levels and malaria infection status were also determined. The relationships between the independent variables and anaemic status of the study participants were assessed using bi-variate analysis.
Results: The overall anaemia prevalence was 67.5%, and the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe anaemia were 35.4%, 26.7% and 5.3%, respectively. About 56.8% of the participants had a high dietary diversity score, and more than half (57.8%) had a normal body mass index (18- 24.9kg/m2). There was no significant association between body mass index (p=0.430), dietary diversity score (p=0.711), oxygen saturation level (p=0.761) and anaemia. However, monthly blood loss significantly contributed to anaemia (p=0.047).
Conclusion: This study has highlighted the high prevalence of anaemia among reproductive-age women. Body mass index, dietary diversity score and oxygen saturation level were not potential risk factors associated with anaemia. However, monthly blood loss was associated with anaemia. Due to the adverse consequences of anaemia on the health of reproductive women, proper interventions such as regular supplementation of the diet with iron and folate can be included to replenish blood loss.

Author Biographies

Marina Aferiba Tandoh, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST

Dr. Marina Aferiba Tandoh is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST, Ghana. She is a graduate from KNUST, University of Ghana and the University of Georgia, U.S.A. Her research interests include issues of nutritional anaemias, dietetics, global health and nutrition education across the life-cycle.

Winifred Opoku Agyemang, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Winifred Opoku Agyemang is a Biochemist with a research focus on addressing public health issues. She is particularly interested in Microbiology, Immunology, and public health.

Emmanuella Takyi Brago , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Emmanuella Takyi Brago is a Biochemist who is passionate about improving the Nutritional Status of children. She believes strongly that nutrition is the foundation for quality health care among individuals.

Samuel Selorm Attu , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Samuel Selorm Attu served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at KNUST. His expertise includes Social Behavior Change Communication, with a focus on Infant and Young Child Feeding practices, parental knowledge, and their impact on hemoglobin levels in children aged 6-23 months.

Emmanuel Asare Domfeh, University of Ghana and King's College London

Dr. A E Domfeh is a specialist in maternal and infant nutrition. He is a graduate of University of Ghana and King's College London, UK. Emmanuel has also served as a community nutrition officer for the World Food Programme and with UNICEF Ghana, where he was involved in projects aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition.

Prevalence And Risk Fctors Of Anaemia Among Women Of Reproductive Age In A Ghanaian University

Abstract

Author Biographies

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