Abstract:
Background: Immediate postpartum anemia (IPPA) occurs when the amount of red blood cell
count is reduced or hemoglobin concentration is below <11 g/dl for a postnatal mother. It occurs
primarily due to inadequate iron intake before and during pregnancy and blood loss during
delivery. Taking iron folate supplements, eating iron-rich foods and preventing intestinal worms
during pregnancy can prevent postpartum anemia. Despite the fact that studies on postpartum
anemia have been conducted in general, there is insufficient evidence on the proportion and
factors associated with immediate postpartum anemia in the study area.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess proportion of immediate postpartum anemia and
associated factors among mothers gave birth at Shewarobit Town health facilities, North Shewa,
Amhara, Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from June to September, 2022.
A total of 307 postnatal mothers were participated in this study. Systematic random sampling
method was employed. The data was collected through interviewer administered questions. Data
was entered into Epi data software and exported to SPSS for analysis and descriptive statistics
was computed. Logistic regression was applied and P-value less than 0.05 was considered as
statistically significant.
Results: In this study, the proportion of immediate postpartum anemia was 41.4% [95% CI:
(36.7-46.6)]. Having postpartum hemorrhage [AOR=4.76, 95%CI (2.44-9.28)], not taking IFA
supplementation [AOR=6.19; 95% CI (2.69, 14.22)], having prolonged second stage of labor
[AOR=2.52, 95% CI (1.16-5.44)] and MUAC <23 cm [AOR=2.02, 95% CI (1.11, 3.68)] were
factors significantly associated with immediate postpartum anemia.
Conclusions: The proportion of postpartum anemia was high in Shewarobit health facilities,
postpartum hemorrhage, not taking IFA supplementation, prolonged second stage of labor and
MUAC <23 cm were factors significantly associated with immediate postpartum anemia.
Following progress of labor using parthograph, closely monitoring and immediate intervention
of PPH, plump let supplementation for at-risk mothers of under nutrition(MUAC<23 cm) and
iron supplementation at least 180 tablets with counseling on possible side effects during ANC is
recommended.
