Pregnant women's perceptions of anaemia in pregnancy at the urban health facility in Ahougnansou (centre-north Côte d’Ivoire)

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is an issue of concern in the reduction of reproductive health morbidity in Côte d'Ivoire. This research aimed to describe the meaning of anaemia and analyze its explanatory factors from the perspective of pregnant women in a hospital setting in Ahougnansou in the city of Bouaké in the Centre-North of Côte d'Ivoire. Methods: This qualitative research was descriptive-interpretive. Individual interviews were conducted with twenty (20) participating pregnant women in the hospital environment of Ahougnansou. The data were analyzed using a content analysis supported by a thematic grid. Results: Perceptions have identified anaemia in pregnancy as a life-threatening reproductive morbidity for both mother and child. Its specific image has been associated with a lack of blood in the body, symptoms of fever, dizziness, fatigue, lack of appetite, pallor, thinness and an aetiology relating to food bans. In addition, the explanatory logics noted its link with irrational health behaviours such as irregular consultations, inaccessibility to edifying advice, lack of early detection, lack of use of daily oral iron and folic acid supplementation, lack of mobilization of financial resources and non-observance of a balanced diet. Conclusion: Examination of the social representation of anaemia in pregnancy leads to relevant insights into the irrational health behaviours of pregnant women. Searching for appropriate long-term solutions to this morbidity requires the immersion of midwives in the living environment of pregnant women and specific community health actions in populations in order to circumscribe the reproductive practices involved in resistance to nutritional recommendations in pregnancy.