The prevalence and determinants of iron deficiency anemia in rural Thai-Muslim pregnant women in Pattani Province.

This study was conducted in order to describe the type of anemia and risk factors for iron deficiency anemia in Pattani Province, Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to October 1997 in five randomly selected districts, choosing villages in the catchment area of a random sample of 30 out of 57 health centers (HC). All resident eligible pregnant women (PW) at 32-40 weeks of gestation without any overt diseases were selected. Food intake and antenatal health history were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, health questionnaire and a review of HC records. Of the 180 enrolled PW, the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID), iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and other anemia were 34.4, 37.8 and 7.8%, respectively. PW in the last group were excluded from the analysis of predictors of iron status. Stool samples were obtained from 130 PW. The prevalences of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris were 47, 48 and 25 %, respectively. The number of ante-natal care (ANC) visits ranged from 0-8 with a median of 3 visits. Of those PW who visited, 97% reported receiving iron tablets. The compliance rate with iron tablets was low especially in the third trimester (9-12 %). Ordinal logistic regression showed that the risks for ID and IDA were reduced with statistical significance at a gestational age greater than 34 weeks, with more than three ANC visits, and increased consumption of meat and calories, but increased with hookworm infection. Compliance with iron tablet supplementation did not significantly reduce the risk for ID and IDA. In this study, PW had high percentages of ID and IDA. The risk factors identified in this report require intervention to eliminate them.