Factors Associated with Anemia in Pregnancy in Cascades Region in Burkina Faso

Objectives: To analyze the factors associated with anemia in pregnancy in the Cascades region in Burkina Faso. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in antenatal clinics of the Cascades region in Burkina Faso during one month from May to June 2012. We collected data on socio-demographics and health characteristics of pregnant women attending these clinics. Hemoglobin was measured to assess anemia. Factors associated with anemia were identified through a multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 1763 pregnant women, irrespectively of pregnancy stage, were enrolled. The mean (SD) hemoglobin level was 10.6 (1.4) g/dl. The prevalence of anemia in pregnancy was 58.9%, 3.2% of them being severe. Factors associated with anemia were the absence of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulfadoxin-pyrimetamin (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7), number of pregnancies >6 (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9). Moderate consumption of local alcohol extracted from Palmyra was associated with a lower prevalence of anemia (OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9). Surprisingly, anemia was not associated with supplementation with folic acid + iron (p = 0.60). Conclusions: Interventions which aim to reduce the prevalence of anemia in pregnancy in Burkina Faso should improve the coverage of the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria and support the limitation of births.