Exploring Rural Women’s Perspectives on Associated Factors to Anaemia During Pregnancy in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: A Qualitative Approach

Introduction Pregnancy‐related anaemia is associated with high maternal, foetal, and infant morbidity and mortality in rural communities where access to resources for healthcare may be limited. Comprehending the perceptions of rural women concerning the contributing factors to anaemia is essential. The aim was to explore women’s perspectives regarding factors associated with anaemia during pregnancy in a rural village in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive designs were used. The study targeted pregnant women aged 20–35 years who presented with anaemia in late pregnancy (34–38 weeks of gestation) at the selected clinic in rural villages. Twenty (20) participants were recruited from the clinic register and followed up at their homes using nonprobability purposive sampling. Permission to access the village was obtained from the Chief, and ethical clearance from the University Research Ethics Committee was obtained. Data were collected through unstructured in‐depth interviews and analysed using open‐coding analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured through dependability, confirmability, transferability and credibility. Results The associated factors were found to be low socioeconomic status, late antenatal care booking, poor adherence to iron supplements, dietary myths, restricting a nutritious and balanced diet, and a preference for attending traditional healers rather than skilled attendants, resulting in adverse health outcomes. Conclusion Creation of awareness on utilisation of preconception care services and encouragement to initiate ANC during the first trimester for the provision of comprehensive assessment, early detection, referral and management. Provide contextual health education, including the WHO’s four anaemia‐preventive strategies.