Prevalence and factors contributing to maternal megaloblastic anemia among pregnant women attending Ndejje Health Centre IV in Wakiso District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/gbg4je91Keywords:
Maternal megaloblastic anemia, Socio-economic factors, Antenatal care, Folic acid deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Pregnant women, Ndejje Health Centre IVAbstract
Background.
Maternal megaloblastic anemia, primarily caused by folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency, is an important public health concern during pregnancy because it increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications. This study assessed the prevalence and socioeconomic factors associated with maternal megaloblastic anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Ndejje Health Centre IV.
Methods.
A descriptive cross-sectional study employing a retrospective review of secondary data was conducted using 163 antenatal records of pregnant women who attended Ndejje Health Centre IV. Data were extracted using a structured checklist, entered into Microsoft Excel, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and prevalence, while Chi-square tests assessed associations between socio-economic factors and maternal megaloblastic anemia at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results.
The prevalence of maternal megaloblastic anemia was 22/163 (13.7%). The majority of pregnant women were aged 20–29 years (44.2%), while 58 (35.6%) were engaged in small businesses. Regarding the study objectives, no statistically significant association was found between age and maternal megaloblastic anemia (χ² = 3.21, p = 0.36). Similarly, education level (χ² = 4.18, p = 0.24) and occupation (χ² = 2.76, p = 0.43) were not significantly associated with the condition.
Conclusion.
The condition was not significantly associated with age, education level, or occupation, suggesting that nutritional deficiencies and antenatal care practices may play a greater role than socio-economic factors.
Recommendation.
Health facilities should strengthen nutrition education, ensure uninterrupted folic acid supplementation, and promote early and regular attendance at antenatal care.
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