Anaemia Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries: Multivariate Decomposition Analyses Of The Demographic And Health Surveys Data 2008–2018
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Public Health
Abstract
Objectives: The burden and highest regional prevalence of anaemia are reported
in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study evaluated changes in anaemia prevalence
across the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) periods in SSA and reported factors
influencing observed changes in the trend.
Method: The study was implemented by a two-stage cross-sectional stratified
sampling approach. The study involved women of reproductive age (15–49 years)
in sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Benin) using
two different periods of their demographic health survey (DHS) data. The study
adopted both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The chi-square test
was used to determine the existence of a statistically significant relationship
between the outcome and predictor variables and test the observed changes
in anaemia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted on each
survey year and the pooled dataset for eligible study countries. Multivariate
decomposition analysis was performed to explain how compositional changes
and behavioural effects of women's characteristics affected the changes in anaemia
prevalence. The study reported frequencies, percentages and odds ratios along the
with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: Ghana and Sierra Leone experienced 17.07% [95%]. CI: 14.76–19.37,
p < 0.001] and 1% [95% CI: 1.0–2.9, p > 0.05] of anaemia decrease from period 1
to period 2, respectively, while Mali and Benin experienced 11% [95%]. CI: 9.14–
12.90, p < 0.001] and 16.7% [95% CI: 14.99–18.5, p < 0.001] of increase in anaemia
prevalence from period 1 to period 2, respectively. Behavioral effects explained
the decrease in Ghana and the increase in Benin and Mali while endowments or
Compositional changes explained the decrease in Sierra Leone.
Conclusion: Anaemia continues to pose a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa. Therefore, there is an imperative need to scale up the implementation of
nutrition-related programmes and advocacies to ensure optimum changes in
women nutrition-related behaviours.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
anaemia, women of reproductive age, Ghana