Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Bahirdar City: Institutional based cross- sectional study

Abstract Introduction Anemia is a major public health problem in the world. Various studies in Africa have reported a high prevalence of anemia among pregnant women. Even though it is routine to screen pregnant women for anemia during antenatal care, studies are done to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among repeated antenatal care visitors in the study area are limited. Objective To assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among pregnant women who had repeated antenatal care visits at Felegehiwot Referral Hospital from September-December 2019. Methods Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Amhara regional state, Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Bahirdar city, Ethiopia. A total of 286 pregnant women were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify factors associated with anemia during pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of associations and variables with p-values of  Results The overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women who had repeated antenatal care visits at Felegehiwot Referral Hospital was 20.9%. Hookworm infection {AOR = 22.9: (95% CI (2.89, 181.57)), rural residence [AOR = 6.26; (95% CI 1.90, 20.71)), history of malarial attack [AOR = 19.62; (95% CI 3.93. 97.8)), lack of green leafy vegetables [AOR = 7.94; (95% CI 1.1, 56.4)) and ≥ one extra meal in ≤ 4 days per week [AOR = 15.7; (95% CI 4.26, 58.06)) were significantly associated with anemia during pregnancy. Conclusion and recommendation In the present study anemia among pregnant women is found to be a moderate public health problem. Multiple factors including multiparty and living in rural areas were associated with anemia during pregnancy. Therefore, preventive strategies to prevent anemia during pregnancy particularly for multiparous mothers and mothers living in rural areas are imperative.