A Study on Dietary Habits Associated with Anemia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Services at MOH, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Background: Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration within them is lower than normal. Women commonly develop anemia during pregnancy, with nutritional factors playing a key role in its prevalence. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the present study was to find out the prevalence of anemia among pregnant mothers and determine the relationship between anemia during the pregnancy and related dietary habits. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey study among 78 pregnant women attending antenatal care services at Medical Officer of Health office (MOH), Nuwaragam Palatha East, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, provided the Ethical Clearance under the ERC number ERC/UG 24/292. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and information on maternal Hb concentration was obtained directly from individual pregnancy records. Results: The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 34.6%. Among them, 81.5% were mildly anemic, 18.5% were moderately anemic, and no cases of severe anemia were recorded. Anemia was significantly associated with meal pattern and age ( P < 0.05), with young mothers aged 20–29 years being mostly affected. The percentage of nonvegetarian was 100%. Tea/coffee consumption does not show a significant association with anemia status ( P > 0.05). 96.2% of mothers have adequate dietary diversity. Conclusion: The observed prevalence of anemia (34.6%) among pregnant women represents a significant public health issue. Anemia was significantly associated with meal pattern and age.