CAUSES OF ANEAMIA DURING PREGNANCY

Abstract

Women who are pregnant are at a higher risk for developing anaemia due to the consumption of substances and nutrients by the baby needed for haemoglobin synthesis. Anaemia during pregnancy can be a mild condition and easily treated if caught early on; however, it can become dangerous of both the mother and the baby if it goes untreated. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of anaemia among pregnant women was 22% and the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women living in rural area is 1.75 times higher as compared to those who live in urban area. Ethiopia is among the poorest country in Africa, with high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition The role of early and quality antenatal care (ANC) in preventing maternal anaemia cannot be overemphasised.

The causes of anaemia during pregnancy in developing countries are multifactorial; these include micronutrient deficiencies of iron, folate, and vitamins A and B12 and anaemia due to parasitic infections such as malaria and hookworm or chronic infections like TB and HIV contributions of each of the factors that cause anaemia during pregnancy vary due to geographical location, dietary practice, and season. But in Sub-Saharan Africa, inadequate intake of diets rich in iron is reported as the leading cause of anaemia among pregnant women

Anaemia during pregnancy is reported to have negative maternal and child health effect and increase the risk of maternal and perinatal mortality The negative health effects for the mother include fatigue, poor work capacity, impaired immune function, increased risk of cardiac diseases, and mortality Some studies have shown that anaemia during pregnancy contributes to 23% of indirect causes of maternal deaths in developing countries

Anaemia in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight babies Preterm and LBW are still the leading causes of neonatal deaths in developing countries like Tanzania, contributing to 30% of the deaths. It has also been associated with increased risk of intrauterine deaths (IUFD), low APGAR score at 5 minutes, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is a risk for stunting among children younger than two years