Anaemia among pregnant Palestinian women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Abstract

Objective: To assess anaemia prevalence and correlated social and biological determinants among pregnant women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt). Design: A cross-sectional survey conducted among pregnant women attending/ accessing UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) health centres in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in September and October 2006. Setting: Fifty-five UNRWA health centres in the oPt (eighteen in the Gaza Strip and thirty-seven in the West Bank). Subjects: A random sample of 1740 pregnant women. Results: Overall anaemia prevalence was 38?6 % (95 % CI 36?3, 40?9 %). A substantial difference in anaemia prevalence was observed between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (44?9 % v. 31?1 %, respectively), as well as a significant increase in anaemia prevalence in the Gaza Strip compared with an Agency-wide survey conducted in 2004 (44?9 % v. 35?7 %, respectively). Anaemia prevalence was found to increase with age, parity and trimester of gestation. Conclusions: Anaemia still appears to be a public health problem among pregnant women in spite of UNRWA interventions. The West Bank shows prevalence rates similar to those observed in neighbouring countries, while the Gaza Strip has higher rates. Prevalence rates of anaemia among pregnant Palestinian women are more than two times higher than those observed in Europe.

Prevalence, Severity, and Determinant Factors of Anemia among Pregnant Women in South Sudanese Refugees, Pugnido, Western Ethiopia

“…Being in third trimester, drinking tea immediately after meal at least once a day, eating meat at most once a week, MUAC measurement less than 21 cm, and intestinal parasitic infestation were identified as independent predictors of anemia. The overall prevalence of anemia in this study, 36.1% ( n = 130), was found consistent with the study finding in Palestinian refugees (38.6%) [23], South Sudanese refugee living in refugee camps of Uganda (36.3%) [8] and Malaysia (35.0%) [24]. Prevalence and trend of anemia saw a significant decline through time (2005–2011) in most regions of Ethiopia including Gambela [25].…”

“…This finding is concordant with similar studies in Tikur Anbessa, Addis Ababa Ethiopia (80.9%) [32], Kakamega, Eastern Sudan (52.4%) [20], and Palestine (92.4%) [23]. The possible explanation for this finding could be the inclusion of pregnant women in the first trimester during which intensive hemodilution is not occurring and those received hematinics that help to prevent further fall in Hb concentration.…”

“…Parity and birth interval between successive births were reported as predictors of maternal anemia in many studies [23, 32, 33, 39] but not in this study. The possible reason for this difference might be attainment of relatively longer birth interval among our respondents compared to studies in Addis Ababa [32] and Southwest Ethiopia [39].…”

“…This can be related to increased nutritional need for the rapidly growing fetus during third trimester. In line with our finding, third trimester was reported as independent predictors of anemia in Palestine [23], East Anatolian Province, Turkey [12], and Wolayta Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia [33]. The current result was inconsistent with finding from Southeast Ethiopia [38] and Niger Delta Nigeria [28], where gestational age was not significant factor of anemia.…”

“…The possible reason for this difference might be attainment of relatively longer birth interval among our respondents compared to studies in Addis Ababa [32] and Southwest Ethiopia [39]. Larger sample size and relatively higher proportion of multiparous in Palestine [23] and multigravidae in Wolayta Sodo [33] might be the reason for the difference. History of abortion, prolonged menstruation, and bleeding during index pregnancy did not show significant association with anemia in this study.…”