Healthcare

Biography

Dr. Ajong Brian Ngongheh  Graduated from University of Buea of as Medical Doctor. Later on he obtained a Masters in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine during which my chosen modules focused on the design, implementation and evaluation of disease control programs in developing countries. He is a dynamic public health specialist with working experience as a clinician and health manager in international NGOs (Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Medical Corps) in emergency contexts. He is interested in innovative public health interventions for controlling infectious diseases and their implementation and incorporation into routine health systems. He currently works in Medair South Sudan as the medical manager of the Emergency Response Team.

Abstract

This study sought to measure the prevalence and identify risk factors of anaemia among pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit in the Buea.

A cross sectional study was conducted during which pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit over a period of 5 months were invited to participate. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect Socio-demographic data and risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy. Blood was used to measure the haemoglobin concentration, determine HIV serologic status and examined for malaria parasitaemia using standard techniques. Risk factors to anaemia in pregnancy were identified using univariable and multivariable analysis in logistic regression.

Among 250 pregnant women included in the study, 171 (68.4%, 95% CI: 60% - 72%) were anaemic. In multivariable analysis, malaria infection and gravidity were significantly associated with anaemia. Relative to women without malaria, those with malaria parasitaemia were 9.47 times more likely of being anaemic (OR = 9.47, CI: 4.20 - 21.29, p < 0.001). Furthermore, relative to multigravida, primigravida had 1.98 times the odds of being anaemic (OR 1.98, CI: 1.01 - 3.88, p = 0.044).

The high prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in this study clearly demonstrates its public health importance in the first antenatal visit. Malaria infection and parity are strong modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors respectively for anaemia in pregnancy. Early interventions to reduce anaemia and malaria, targeting women of reproductive age before conception and pregnant women early during the gestational period, especially in primigravida may be helpful.