Prevalence and Risk Factors of Maternal Anemia Among Pregnant Women in Central Jordan.

Abstract

Maternal anemia remains one of the most significant public health issues, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries. The World Health Organization reported a maternal anemia prevalence of 37% among women of reproductive age; this rate is further inflated in developing countries. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to estimate the prevalence of maternal anemia and assess its associated risk factors among pregnant women receiving maternity services in central Jordan. Data collection was conducted using validated self-administered questionnaires administered to 297 pregnant women receiving medical care at three medical facilities during the period between August and November of 2023. The questionnaire examined several domains related to maternal anemia, including sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy profile, reproductive history, nutritional habits, hemoglobin levels, and evaluated the knowledge level of anemia among pregnant women. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with multivariable logistic regression as the primary inferential model, supplemented by a multilayer perceptron neural network to validate predictor consistency. The models achieved an accuracy of 73.0% and 71.1%, respectively. The results revealed that approximately half of the participants (52.5%) were anemic. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the associated risk factors for maternal anemia. Anemia is more likely to develop in later stages of pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.036-2.771) and among women with a high number of abortions (OR = 6.33, 95% [CI] 1.314-13.515), whereas the use of nutritional supplements was a protective factor (OR = 0.104, 95% [CI] 0.013-0.858). These results highlight the urgent need for strengthened antenatal screening protocols and targeted nutritional interventions, particularly for women in later stages of pregnancy and those with a history of abortions.