Knowledge of Anemia in Pregnancy and Practice Towards Its Prevention Among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia in pregnancy remains a major public health concern with serious implications for both maternal and fetal outcomes. This study assessed the knowledge of anemia in pregnancy and the preventive practices among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Edo State University Teaching Hospital, Auchi, Edo State. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and 166 pregnant women were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The findings showed that all respondents (100%) demonstrated awareness that iron deficiency causes anemia. While 78.7% recognized that pregnant women are at higher risk, only 39.4% were aware of common symptoms such as fatigue, and the same proportion understood the role of folic acid in prevention. In terms of preventive practices, 86.2% reported consuming ironrich foods regularly, and 80.7% adhered to prescribed iron supplementation. However, barriers were noted: 85.3% cited financial constraints, 94.1% faced difficulties accessing iron nutrients, and 95.9% reported cultural influences on dietary habits. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed no significant association between knowledge of anemia and socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusion: The empirical evidence showed knowledge gaps and inconsistent prevention practices. The study recommends enhancing antenatal education to address knowledge gaps, while governmental and community efforts should focus on improving access to iron nutrients and culturally appropriate health messaging to support anemia prevention in pregnancy.