Postpartum Anemia and Associated Factors among Lactating Women Visiting Health Centers in OdoShakisso District, Oromia Region, South west Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

Background: Anemia is one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. Although anemia during pregnancy has been adequately investigated, very little is known about postpartum anemia in low income countries like Ethiopia. Objective to assess the magnitude of anemia and associated factors among lactating women visiting health centers in the study area. Methods Facility -based cross-sectional study design was used among randomly selected 509 lactating women who have given birth in the last 6 months prior to the study period. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine hemoglobin concentration using a battery-operated portable Hemo Cue analyzer. Hemoglobin (Hgb) level was measured in gram per deciliter (g/dl). The stool examination was performed for ova and parasite using direct wet mount technique. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data using numerical summary measures, tables, and percentages. Bivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to see the association between each independent variable and the outcome variable. Multivariable binary logistic regression model was fitted to control for all possible confounders and to identify predictors of anemia. Odds ratio alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to measure the strength of the association between study variables. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05. Results The overall magnitude of postpartum anemia was 30.2%; 95%CI :(26.3%, 34.2%)], mild anemia being [22.5% ; 95%CI:(18.6% ,26.3%)],moderate anemia [5.7%; (95%Cl:(3.8%, 7.7%)] and severe anemia [2%; 95%Cl:( 0.8%,3.2%)] respectively. Maternal primary level of education [adjusted odds ratio [(AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI:(1.6.0 ,6.34)], paternal illiteracy [(AOR = 2.7; (95%CI:1.18,6.19)], being infected with ascaris lumbricoids [AOR = 5.28, 95% CI: (1.81,15.43)] and Hook worm [(AOR = 5.38, 95% CI:(1.05,27.57)], multiparity [(AOR = 2.5, 95% CI:(1.45,4.31)], and lack of iron supplementation during pregnancy [(AOR = 2.89; 95%CI:(1.65,4.65)] were significantly associated with anemia. Conclusions The magnitude of postpartum anemia was high. Maternal and paternal education, intestinal parasitic infections, multiparty and lack of iron supplementation during pregnancy were predictors of postpartum anemia. Hence, all concerned bodies should strengthen strategies to contain parasitic infections, improve iron supplementation, birth spacing, and postnatal deworming to prevent postpartum anemia.