Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associate Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Lao PDR: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey

Sengtavanh Keokenchanh; Sengchanh Kounnavong; Akiko Tokinobu; Kaoru Midorikawa; Wakaha Ikeda; Akemi Morita; Takumi Kitajima; Shigeru Sokejima

doi:10.1155/2021/8823030

Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associate Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Lao PDR: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey

Anemia. 2021 Jan 15:2021:8823030. doi: 10.1155/2021/8823030. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Sengtavanh Keokenchanh^{1

2}, Sengchanh Kounnavong³, Akiko Tokinobu⁴, Kaoru Midorikawa⁵, Wakaha Ikeda⁶, Akemi Morita¹, Takumi Kitajima¹, Shigeru Sokejima^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-Shi, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
² Foreign Relation Division, Cabinet of the Ministry of Health, Rue Simeuang, Ban Thatkhao, Sisattanack District, Vientiane Capital, Laos.
³ Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Samsenthai Road, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane Capital, Laos.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, 454 Shitsukawa, Toon-shi, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
⁵ Faculty of Child Education, Suzuka University, 663-222 Koriyama-Cho, Suzuka-Shi, Mie 510-0298, Japan.
⁶ Epidemiology Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-Shi, Mie 514-8507, Japan.

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia continues to be a major public health problem significant among women of reproductive age (WRA) in developing countries, including Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), where the prevalence of anemia among women remains high. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among WRA 15-49 years in Lao PDR.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using the Lao Social Indicator Survey II, 2017 dataset. A total of 12,519 WRA tested for anemia were included in this study, through multistage sampling approaches. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors of anemia.

Results: Of 12,519 women, 4,907 (39.2%) were anemic. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that living in central provinces (aOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.96-2.38), rural area (aOR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.00-1.20), large family size with more than 6 persons (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29), pregnancy (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22-1.74), having any adverse pregnancy outcomes (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.25), poor drinking water (aOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10-1.39), and poor sanitation facility (aOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.28) were significantly associated with an increased risk of anemia. Conversely, four factors were associated with anemia preventively, including being aged 25-34 years (aOR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74-0.90), postsecondary education (aOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.97), Hmong-Mien ethnicity (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39-0.59), and watching television almost daily (aOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.75-0.95).

Conclusion: Anemia continues to be a major public health challenge in Lao PDR. Interventions should be considered on geographic variations, improving safe water and sanitation facility, promoting of iron supplements during pregnancy, and health education through mass media for women in rural areas.