Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate iron deficiency anemia (IDA), its associated factors, and intake of iron/folate supplements among pregnant women in the antenatal care facility of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Methods: The study was longitudinally designed, and 112 pregnant women in the second trimester were recruited and followed up through the third trimester. Sociodemographic characteristics, medical/obstetrical history, consumption pattern, and iron indices were assessed using standard methods.
Results: This study showed that 58.0% of the pregnant women investigated have attained a tertiary level of education, and 50.0% were full-time housewives. Among the pregnant women, 56.4% were iron/folate supplement-compliant, and 83.0% and 67.8% were multigravida and multipara, respectively. The study reported that approximately 24.8% of the pregnant women consumed heme iron food sources at least 1 to 3 times daily, while approximately 64.8% did not have a daily intake of at least 1 nonheme iron–rich food source. Iron deficiency anemia prevalence in the second trimester was 10.7%, increasing to 16.5% in the third trimester (P < .05). Similarly, all-cause anemia increased from 37.5% to 65.9% and iron deficiency from 14.3% to 23.5% (P < .05 for both).
Conclusion: Progression from the second to third trimesters was associated with an increased risk of anemia, iron deficiency, and IDA among pregnant women. Pregnant women taking iron/folate supplements had higher iron indices than the noncompliant pregnant women. Consumption of iron-rich foods among pregnant women was low and had little effect on the iron indices estimated, while supplement intake and birth spacing had a significant negative association with anemia, iron deficiency, and IDA.
Author Keywords: Anemia; Iron Deficiency; Pregnancy
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