Background

Anaemia is a significant public health problem in most South-Asian countries, causing increased maternal and child mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with anaemia in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, Maldives, and Nepal.

Methods

We used the nationally-representative Demographic and Health Surveys Program data collected from women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in 2011 in Bangladesh (n = 5678), 2016 in Maldives (n = 6837), and 2016 in Nepal (n = 6419). Anaemia was categorized as mild (haemoglobin [Hb] of 10.0–10.9 g/dL for pregnant women and 11.0–11.9 g/dL for non-pregnant women), moderate (Hb of 7.0–9.9 g/dL for pregnant women and 8.0–10.9 g/dL for non-pregnant women), and severe (Hb <7.0 g/dL for pregnant women and <8.0 g/dL for non-pregnant women). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with anaemia.

Results

The prevalence of anaemia was 41.8% in Bangladesh, 58.5% in Maldives, and 40.6% in Nepal. In Bangladesh, postpartum amenorrhoeic, non-educated, and pregnant women were more likely to have moderate/severe anaemia compared to women who were menopausal, had secondary education, and were not pregnant, respectively. In Maldives, residence in urban areas, underweight, having undergone female sterilization, current pregnancy, and menstruation in the last six weeks were associated with increased odds of moderate/severe anaemia. In Nepal, factors associated with increased odds of moderate/severe anaemia were having undergone female sterilization and current pregnancy.

Conclusion

Anaemia remains a significant public health issue among 15-49-year-old women in Bangladesh, Maldives, and Nepal, which requires urgent attention. Effective policies and programmes for the control and prevention of anaemia should take into account the unique factors associated with anaemia identified in each country. In all three countries, strategies for the prevention and control of anaemia should particularly focus on women who are pregnant, underweight, or have undergone sterilization.

中文翻译：

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孟加拉国，马尔代夫和尼泊尔育龄妇女贫血的患病率及相关因素：来自全国代表性调查数据的证据

背景

贫血是大多数南亚国家的重要公共卫生问题，导致孕产妇和儿童的死亡率和发病率增加。这项研究旨在评估孟加拉国，马尔代夫和尼泊尔育龄妇女中贫血的患病率及其相关因素。

方法

我们使用了2011年在孟加拉国（n = 5678），2016年在马尔代夫（n = 6837）和2016年在尼泊尔（n = 6419）。贫血分为轻度（孕妇血红蛋白[Hb]为10.0-10.9 g / dL，非孕妇血红蛋白[Hb]为11.0-11.9 g / dL），中度（孕妇血红蛋白[Hb]为7.0-9.9 g / dL和8.0-Hb）。非孕妇为10.9 g / dL）和严重（孕妇为Hb <7.0 g / dL，非孕妇为< 8.0 g / dL）。多项式逻辑回归分析用于确定与贫血相关的因素。

结果

孟加拉国的贫血患病率为41.8％，马尔代夫为58.5％，尼泊尔为40.6％。在孟加拉国，与绝经，受过中等教育且未怀孕的妇女相比，产后闭经，未受过教育的妇女和孕妇更有可能患有中度/重度贫血。在马尔代夫，过去六周内进行了女性绝育，当前怀孕和月经的城市居民体重不足，体重过轻与中度/重度贫血几率增加有关。在尼泊尔，与中/重度贫血几率增加相关的因素是女性绝育和当前妊娠。

结论

在孟加拉国，马尔代夫和尼泊尔的15-49岁妇女中，贫血仍然是一个重要的公共卫生问题，需要紧急关注。控制和预防贫血的有效政策和方案应考虑到每个国家确定的与贫血有关的独特因素。在这三个国家中，预防和控制贫血的策略都应特别关注孕妇，体重过轻或已经绝育的妇女。