Prevalence and Its Associated Factors of Anemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Health Institutions of Hargeisa, Somaliland

Background Anemia is one of the most common worldwide public health problems related to pregnancy. However, there is a scarcity of evidence regarding anemia among pregnant women in Somaliland, particularly in Hargeisa city. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and its associated factors of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in health institutions of Hargeisa, Somaliland. Method A cross‐sectional study was carried out by involving 402 pregnant women in health institutions of Hargeisa between August 30 and September 30, 2023. Data were collected by four certified midwives using a structured face‐to‐face interview questionnaire, while four experienced laboratory professionals collected the necessary laboratory samples. A probability proportion to size sampling method was used, followed by simple random selection to select the study participants. The hemoglobin level was measured using the HemoCue 301 System. Data were entered into EpiData Version 4.6 and exported to SPSS Version 26 for analysis. A logistic regression model was fitted to determine the factors associated with anemia. Variables with a p value less than 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were considered for the multivariable logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and results were reported as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results Of the 402 pregnant women, 56.2% (95% CI: 51%–61%) of the participants were anemic, of which 20.4% were mild anemia, 32.6% were moderate anemia, and 3.2% were severe anemia. Pregnant women who had no ANC follow‐up before the current visit (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI = 1.91, 6.18), pregnant women who did not use iron supplementation (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.85, 5.48), pregnant women who were in the third trimester (AOR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.69, 6.42), pregnant women infected with intestinal parasitosis (AOR = 5.12, 95% CI = 1.08, 24.15), and pregnant women who were positive for malaria (AOR = 7.71, 95% CI = 1.81, 32.54) were all significantly associated with maternal anemia. Conclusions The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Hargeisa is a significant public health concern, with more than half of the study participants affected.