Maternal anaemia during postpartum: Preliminary findings from a cross-sectional study in Dodoma City, Tanzania.
Sophia Rogasian Tairo, Mariam John Munyogwa
PMID 34595838WHAT IT FOUND
21.6% of 384 postnatal women in Dodoma had anaemia; multiple birth, normal BMI, perceived insufficient milk supply and pulse consumption were associated.
Nurses can use these flags to check iron and diet at postnatal visits.
Key findings
0121.6% of 384 postnatal women attending clinics in Dodoma had anaemia.
02After adjustment, multiple birth, pulse consumption, normal BMI and perceived insufficient milk supply were associated with anaemia.
03345 women (89.5%) did not meet minimum dietary diversity in the previous 24 hours.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional survey, so it can show association but not cause or direction. Women were recruited only from postnatal clinics, so women who did not attend or were too unwell may be missing. Socio-demographic, dietary and breastfeeding information was self-reported, so recall or reporting bias is possible. The study was done in one city and only 384 women were analysed, so it may not apply elsewhere. The sample size used an assumed 50% prevalence, and the final analysis had 384 of 398 selected.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interest. The supplied text does not state a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the association with perceived insufficient milk supply as proof that anaemia causes poor milk supply. The study was cross-sectional and measured both at the same postnatal visit, so it cannot show which came first or whether other factors explain the link.