Abstract:
Background: Globally, the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency, which is responsible for about half of anemia cause in pregnancy, and it estimated that in developed countries 38% are iron depletion. In developing countries, the major causes of anemia in pregnancy are nutritional deficiencies, parasitic infestations, HIV infection, hemorrhage and some chronic medical disorders like renal and hepatic diseases. Objective: The main objective the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on prevention of nutritional anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care at selected health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: Facility based cross-sectional study method was employed at three public health centers Gulele sub city, Addis Ababa, from March 21 to April 27, 2019. By using a single population proportion formula 358 samples from pregnant women were approached for each selected health center. The sample size was proportional allocated to each health center based on their total population. The data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires by four trained diploma nurses and midwifes with one supervisor. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results: Among the respondents who participated in the study, 54%, 67% and 41% of them replied that they have good knowledge, favorable attitude and good practice about nutritional anemia during pregnancy, respectively. Correlation analysis also revealed that there is positive association between knowledge, attitude and practice. Moreover, the crude and adjusted odds ratio also revealed that knowledge and attitude of pregnant women towards nutritional anemia were predicted by, educational status, and income and number children. While age of pregnant women was also predict attitude of respondents towards nutritional anemia. Conclusion: Based on study findings majority of the study participants attending ANC at Gulele sub city Governmental health centers have relatively higher Knowledge, Attitude and Practice than the previous studies conducted in Addis Ababa. However, the proportion of respondent‟s knowledge, attitude and practice on nutritional anemia prevention is low which is below the proportion reported by other researchers in different part of the country. Multiple factors such as education, income, number of child and age of pregnant women significantly affect knowledge attitude and practice regarding prevention of nutritional anemia during pregnancy. Therefore, policy makers „should consider those factors contributed in prevention of nutritional anemia during pregnancy.