Haidar Jemal
School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 27285/1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2010 Aug;28(4):359-68. doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v28i4.6042.
A cross-sectional community-based study with analytic component was conducted among Ethiopian women during June-July 2005 to assess the magnitude of anaemia and deficiencies of iron and folic acid and to compare the factors responsible for anaemia among anaemic and non-anaemic cases. In total, 970 women, aged 15-19 years, were selected systematically for haematological and other important parameters. The overall prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia, deficiency of folic acid, and parasitic infestations was 30.4%, 50.1%, 18.1%, 31.3%, and 13.7% respectively. Women who had more children aged less than five years but above two years, open-field toilet habits, chronic illnesses, and having intestinal parasites were positively associated with anaemia. Women who had no formal education and who did not use contraceptives were negatively associated with anaemia. The major determinants identified for anaemia were chronic illnesses [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.55), deficiency of iron (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.35-0.64), and deficiency of folic acid (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.50-0.90). The odds for developing anaemia was 1.1 times more likely among women with chronic illnesses, 60% more likely in the iron-deficient and 40% more likely in the folic acid-deficient than their counterparts. One in every three women had anaemia and deficiency of folic acid while one in every two had iron deficiency, suggesting that deficiencies of both folic acid and iron constitute the major micronutrient deficiencies in Ethiopian women. The risk imposed by anaemia to the health of women ranging from impediment of daily activities and poor pregnancy outcome calls for effective public-health measures, such as improved nutrient supplementation, health education, and timely treatment of illnesses.
2005年6月至7月期间，在埃塞俄比亚妇女中开展了一项包含分析部分的基于社区的横断面研究，以评估贫血以及铁和叶酸缺乏的严重程度，并比较贫血和非贫血病例中导致贫血的因素。总共系统选取了970名年龄在15至19岁之间的妇女，对其进行血液学和其他重要参数检测。贫血、缺铁、缺铁性贫血、叶酸缺乏和寄生虫感染的总体患病率分别为30.4%、50.1%、18.1%、31.3%和13.7%。生育了更多年龄在两岁以上但小于五岁孩子的妇女、露天排便习惯、慢性病以及患有肠道寄生虫与贫血呈正相关。未接受正规教育且未使用避孕药具的妇女与贫血呈负相关。确定的贫血主要决定因素为慢性病[调整优势比（AOR）=1.1，95%置信区间（CI）1.15 - 1.55]、缺铁（AOR = 0.4，95% CI 0.35 - 0.64）和叶酸缺乏（AOR = 0.5，95% CI 0.50 - 0.90）。患有慢性病的妇女患贫血的几率比其对应人群高1.1倍，缺铁妇女高60%，叶酸缺乏妇女高40%。每三名妇女中就有一人患有贫血和叶酸缺乏，而每两名妇女中就有一人缺铁，这表明叶酸和铁缺乏是埃塞俄比亚妇女主要的微量营养素缺乏情况。贫血给妇女健康带来的风险，从日常活动受限到不良妊娠结局，都需要采取有效的公共卫生措施，如改善营养补充、健康教育和及时治疗疾病。
