Knowledge and Prevention of Anaemia in Pregnancy among Pregnant Women attending Antenatal Clinic at Oba Ademola II Maternity Hospital, Ijemo, Ogun State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63950/gshh.2026.2.1.29Keywords:
Anaemia in pregnancy, Knowledge, PreventionAbstract
Introduction: Anaemia in pregnancy remains a major global health concern and the most common nutritional disorder affecting women in developing countries. It contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the knowledge and preventive practices regarding anaemia among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Oba Ademola II Maternity Hospital, Ijemo, Ogun State.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed among 210 pregnant women selected using a convenience sampling technique. The sample size was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data were collected with a validated, structured self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, preventive measures, and associated factors. Ethical approval was obtained from the Oba Ademola II Maternity Hospital Research Ethics Committee. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0 with descriptive and inferential statistics; significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Although only 53.8% correctly defined anaemia as low haemoglobin, 80.5% demonstrated good overall knowledge based on a ≥70% score cut-off. Preventive measures were widely practised, with 86.7% adhering to iron-rich diets, supplements, and regular antenatal visits. Major factors associated with anaemia included poor nutrition (76.7%), financial constraints (71.9%), frequent pregnancies (74.3%), and parasitic infections (74.3%). Knowledge was significantly associated with socio-demographic characteristics (p < 0.05) and preventive practices (p < 0.001). The instrument showed high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.882).
Conclusion: Although awareness and preventive practices were encouraging, misconceptions and economic barriers persist. Strengthened health education, culturally sensitive counselling, and socioeconomic support are essential to enhance anaemia prevention and improve maternal health outcomes.
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The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Elias TI, Sodimu JO (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
