Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at a Medical Center in Accra, Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Anemia during pregnancy remains a major cause of maternal and infant morbidity in Ghana and has broader socioeconomic implications. Its persistence despite existing interventions indicates that factors such as education, occupation, and nutrition require closer evaluation. This study assessed the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Ghana. Methods A hospital‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among 152 consenting pregnant women attending antenatal care at Ark Medical Center. A structured pretested questionnaire collected demographic and clinical data. Participants from all trimesters were included. Blood samples were analyzed to determine anemia status, type, and severity. Descriptive statistics were used, and associations were evaluated using chi‐square tests and multivariable logistic regression, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Anemia was present in 55.90% of participants, of whom 63.53% had mild and 36.47% had moderate anemia. The highest prevalence occurred among women aged ≥ 36 years (65.22%) and those with secondary education (62.22%). Independent risk factors were inadequate intake of iron‐rich foods (aOR = 5.77, 95% CI: 2.46–9.28, p = 0.009), sickle cell disease (aOR = 6.72, 95% CI: 4.31–10.01, p = 0.022), and helminth infection (aOR = 5.73, 95% CI: 2.04–10.08, p = 0.001). Microcytic hypochromic anemia was the predominant type (47.06%), with significantly reduced mean corpuscular volume ( p = 0.022) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin ( p = 0.004). Conclusion Anemia remains highly prevalent among pregnant women and is strongly associated with nutritional deficiency, sickle cell disease, and helminth infections. The dominance of microcytic hypochromic anemia supports the need for targeted nutritional support, prophylaxis, and routine screening within antenatal care to improve pregnancy outcomes.