[Prevalence and factors associated with anemia in pregnant women from the semiarid region of Alagoas, Brazil].

PURPOSE: to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated to anemia in pregnant women from the semiarid region of Alagoas, Brazil.
METHODS: transversal study comprising a sample (n=150) obtained taking into consideration the prevalence estimated by World Health Organization of 52%, an error of 8% and a confidence interval of 95%. Sampling has been done in three stages: 15 towns among the 38 in the region, four census sectors by town and 24 residences by sector. All the resident pregnant women were eligible, and their socio-economic, demographic, anthropometric and health data have been collected. Anemia was identified at the <11 g/dL hemoglobin level (Hemocue), and its association with risk factors, tested by multiple linear regression analysis.
RESULTS: anemia prevalence was 50%. Seventy eight per cent of the pregnant women were under pre-natal care. From those, 79.3% were in the second or third trimester of gestation. Nevertheless, only 21.2% of them were taking iron supplementation. Variables (p<0.05) independently associated with anemia (anemic versus not-anemic pregnant women) were: larger number of family members (4.5+/-2.3 versus 4,3+/-2.3; p=0.02), lower age group of the pregnant woman (23.9+/-6.3 versus 24.7+/-6.7; p=0.04), or of her partner (34.5+/-15.8 versus 36+/-17.5; p=0.03), no toilet in the house (30.7 versus 24%; p<0.001), history of child abortion and/or death (32.4 versus 16.4%; p<0.001), living in the country (60 versus 46.7%; p=0.03), average per capita income <US$1.00/day (60.3 versus 52.1%; p=0.02), pre-gestational weight <50 kg (33.3 versus 24.6%; p=0.03), pre-natal care onset after the first trimester of gestation (45.3 versus 18%; p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: anemia prevalence in pregnant women from the semiarid region of Alagoas constitutes a major health problem, deserving special attention by the people in charge of public policy.