The relationship between nutritional status and anemia diet among pregnant women in 4 communes of Thoi Lai district, Can Tho City in 2017

Abstract

Anemia in pregnant women remains as a signifcant public health problem in Viet Nam and needs to be controlled to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality. This article was to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and diet intake before and during pregnancy and anemia among pregnant women in 4 communes of Thoi Lai district, Can Tho province in 2017. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 213 pregnant women in 4 selected communes of Thoi Lai district from March 2017 to June 2017. The pregnant women were interviewed and tested blood to evaluate the anemia. The results showed that the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women is 20.2%; The food diversity before and during pregnancy, weight gain and not taking iron tablets properly during pregnancy is associated with anemia (OR were 2.8; 5.6, 2.7 and 3, respectively, p <0.05). Health education needs to be strengthened for pregnant women as well as advice on nutrition before and during pregnancy to prevent anemia.