Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anemia and its risk factors for lactating women in China.
Methods: Data was extracted from Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance-Mothers for children under 2 years of age(2013). Totally, 11 178 mothers of children under 2 years old were selected from 55 counties of 30 provinces in China by using the multi-stage stratified cluster randomization sampling method. Among these women 7129 are lactating. The basic information of lactating women was collected through the questionnaire survey. Hemoglobin concentration was measured by photometric determination of haemiglobincyanide(HiCN) method. Participants without blood sample and basic information were excluded. Finally, 6255 lactating women were included in the analysis. Complex sampling method with weighted analysis was used.
Results: Totally, with a complex sampling method with weighted analysis, the prevalence of anemia for lactating women was 9.3%. The mean hemoglobin level was(136.1±0.9) g/L. The mild and moderate anemia accounted for 98.8% of all anemic cases. Compared with those lactating time<6 months, lactating time between 6 to 12 months had a lower risk of anemia(OR=0.74, 95%CI 0.61-0.90). Compared with those living in large cities, the maternal living in poor rural areas had a higher risk of anemia(OR=1.69, 95%CI 1.29-2.20).
Conclusion: In 2013, the prevalence of anemia was mild for the lactating women in China. Lactating women in poor rural areas, within 6 months after deliveryhad the higher risk for anemia.
Keywords: anemia; cross-sectional study; influence factor; lactating women.