Prevalence and determinants of anemia among people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in public health facilities in Jigjiga, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a significant concern for people with HIV worldwide, as it is associated with reduced life expectancy, fatigue, weakness, reduced physical functioning, psychological distress such as depression and anxiety, and poorer quality of life. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and identify factors associated with anemia among people with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy at public health institutions in Jigjiga, Ethiopia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 11 to August 12, 2023, involving 392 people with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in Jigjiga, Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and hemoglobin measurements, then coded and entered in EpiData version 3.1. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, with multivariate logistic regression used to identify factors associated with anemia. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anemia in the study population was 39% (95% CI: 34.3-44.2). Among those with anemia, 0.6% had severe anemia, 33.5% had moderate anemia, and 4.9% had mild anemia. Female sex, presence of opportunistic infections, and low dietary diversity scores were significantly linked to anemia in multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anemia was identified as a moderate public health problem among people with HIV receiving ART at the study sites. The findings highlight the importance of providing targeted support to women and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections to reduce the severity and impact of anemia. Furthermore, patients with poor dietary diversity should be offered nutritional counselling to enhance their health outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Anemia continues to pose a substantial public health burden among people living with HIV/AIDS, particularly in low-resource settings. This study provides context-specific evidence from Jigjiga, a region with limited existing data, helping to fill a critical knowledge gap. The results offer valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers to design targeted interventions, improve anemia screening and management, and enhance the quality of life for People with HIV on ART.