Prevalence and risk factors among anemia during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study at the Authority of Al-Thawrah General Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen

Background: The prevalence of anemia in pregnancy, which ranges from 41.8% globally to up to 54% in the Middle East, is a severe global health issue. Aim of this study: This study aims to identify associations between anemia in expectant mothers and risk variables in Hodeidah, Yemen. Subjects and Methods: Research Design: We adopted a cross-sectional research design to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Authority of Al-Thawrah General Hospital in Hodeidah, Yemen. Subjects: A convenience sample of 350 expectant mothers. Tools of data collection: A standardized questionnaire, laboratory tests and medical records were used to collect the data from studied cases. Results: The frequency of anemia was 76.86%, which is higher than previous regional studies and comparable to African studies. The majority of patients (55.76% to 41.64%) had mild to moderate anemia. Combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) were a protective factor against anemia (OR 0.36, p=0.006). Conclusion: The study highlights the significant anemia frequency and severity among expecting mothers in Hodeidah, Yemen. Recommendations: This study recommended that, to improve prenatal care and early anemia detection, macro and micro-interventions are required. Additional research into associated risk factors might direct focused mitigation efforts for this population.