Wright S, et al. – The prevalence and predictors of anemia in pregnancy in Western Jamaica are depicted in this study. The outcomes of the study demonstrate that early identification and treatment of anemia, particularly among younger pregnant women, ought to be a priority. Health care provider (HCP) ought to ensure that women comprehend the need to be cured of their anemia and to adhere to preventive hygienic practices.

Methods

• For this research, they designed a cross–sectional study.
• This study was conducted among 293 mothers attending post–natal clinics in Western Jamaica.
• A questionnaire was administered to the mothers, and an abstraction form was utilized to gather clinical information from the mothers' records.

Results

• The prevalence of anemia among the women was 37.6%.
• Younger mothers (aged 18–24 years) were more likely to be anemic compared to those ≥ 35 years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.44, 95% CI: 1.07–11.06).
• Mothers who reported not always washing their hands after utilizing the toilet were almost 10 times more likely to be anemic (OR: 9.7, 95% CI: 1.72–54.78) compared to those who reported always washing their hands.
• Mothers who attended a public facility for antenatal care were 2.3 times more likely to be anemic (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.03–5.18) compared to those who obtained care at a private facility, and mothers who reported being told that they were anemic by a health care provider (HCP) were almost six times more likely to be anemic compared with those who were not told (OR: 5.58, 95% CI: 1.73–17.93).