Does Education Level, Household Income, Budget for Food and Birth Interval Predict the Iron Status of Women of Childbearing age in Nandi County, Kenya?
Loading...
Date
2020-09
Authors
Nyakundi, Patrick Nyamemba
Kiio, Juliana
Munyaka, Ann
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ecronicon Open Access
Abstract
Women of Childbearing Age (WCA) encounter disproportionately elevated prevalence of iron deficiency caused by increased
demand for iron related to pregnancy and menstruation. The study investigated the association between socio-economic and demographic
characteristics and normal serum ferritin levels among WCA in Nandi County, Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical design was
adopted to conduct the study in Kapsabet Ward. The Ward was divided into 8 clusters and systematic sampling was used to sample a
total of 160 respondents proportionately from the clusters. A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on the socioeconomic
and demographic characteristics and health-related information from the respondents. A venous blood sample (2 ml) was
drawn from the participants. Serum ferritin (SF) and C-reactive proteins (CRP) were analysed using “Eligance Amplified Enzyme
Linked Immunosorbent Assay”. Data were entered into SPSS and continuous and categorical variables including demographic and
socio-economic characteristics and iron status were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, means, and standard
deviations. Binomial regression was conducted to understand the association between socio-economic and demographic factors and
iron status. Confounding variables such as iron supplementation, recent major blood losses, and parasitic infections were controlled
for during analysis. Most of the respondents were young (aged 15 - 24 years) (53.8%), single women (57.5%), and belonged to
households earning < Ksh. 10,000 (38.1%) and budgeted 34.0% of their income for food. The prevalence of iron deficiency (SF < 15
μg/l and CRP < 5 mg/l or SF 15 - 29 μg/l and CRP > 5 mg/l) among WCA was 36.9%. Respondents who belonged to households that
made an income of Ksh.10000 - 20000 were 3 times more likely (AOR = 3.163, p = 0.010, CI = 1.320 - 7.577) to have normal stores of
iron than those who made less than Ksh. 10000. Respondents with wider birth interval (AOR = 1.705, p = 0.020, CI = 1.089 - 2.670)
and high budget for food (AOR = 1.232, p = 0.001, CI = 1.130 - 1.344) were nearly 2-fold and 23.2% respectively, more likely to have
normal iron status. Normal SF of WCA were positively predicted by a wider birth interval, higher income and budget for food at the
household level.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Serum Ferritin, Women of Childbearing Age, Socio-Economic Status
Citation
Patrick Nyamemba Nyakundi., et al. “Does Education Level, Household Income, Budget for Food and Birth Interval Predict the Iron Status of Women of Childbearing age in Nandi County, Kenya?”. EC Nutrition 15.10 (2020): 42-49.