Anaemia in pregnant, postpartum and non pregnant women in Lak district, Daklak province of Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES

To determine anaemia prevalence and related factors in pregnant women (PW), post partum women (PPW) and non pregnant women (NPW) in a remote mountainous district.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2001. All PW, all PPW within 6 months of delivery and a random number of NPW equivalents to the number of PW in each commune were selected. Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured using Hemocue method. Mild anaemia was defined as Hb=7 g/dL-11 g/dL in PW, and 8 g/dL-12 g/dL in NPW and PPW. Severe anaemia was defined as Hb<7 g/dL in PW, and<8 g/dL in NPW and PPW. Pregnancy status was determined using urine pregnancy test and calculation of expected menstruum.

RESULTS

There were 901 women surveyed: 281 PW, 348 PPW and 272 NPW. More than half (58%) were anaemic: 54% mild and 4% severe. Mean Hb was 11.1g/dL. More PPW had anaemia (62%; OR=1.4; 95%CI=1.1-2.1 compared to NPW) than NPW (54%) and PW (53%). Other related factors were being BoY, Ede and Koho ethnics (OR=2.7; 95%CI=1.4-5.0 compared to Kinh ethnic), having primary education or lower (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.1-2.1 compared to secondary education or higher). Among PW, being pregnant during the third trimester increased anaemia (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.3-3.8 compared to being pregnant during the second trimester). Among PPW, women aged 30 or older were more anaemic (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.1-2.9 compared to women aged 20-29).

CONCLUSION

Anaemia prevalence was very high. Interventions should be focused on PPW, PW during the last trimester, minority ethnic women, low-educated and older women.