Women of Reproductive Age in Jamaica at Significant Risk for Anaemia

Iron deficiency and multiparity are significant risk factors for anaemia in women of childbearing age in Jamaica, a local study has found.

Multiparity is defined as having given birth more than once or to more than one baby at a time.

The study, titled ‘Dietary Predictors of Anaemia in Women of Reproductive Age (WRA)’, is aimed at determining the association between food insecurity, dietary diversity and iron deficiency status on the prevalence and severity of anaemia among women in Jamaica between the ages of 15 and 49.

Principal Investigator, Sashell Nelson, won the Best Student Oral Presentation award for her delivery of the findings at the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ National Health Research Conference 2024 held in November.

Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Ms. Nelson explained that a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 353 women in the targeted age group from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III.

Food insecurity was assessed using responses to five questions.

Food insecurity is described as lacking regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development.

Also evaluated was dietary diversity based on consumption from seven food groups.

Dietary diversity is the variety of food groups or items a person or household eats over a given period.

It is a measure of how varied a diet is, and it can be used to assess nutritional health.

The survey found that approximately 28 per cent of WRAs were anaemic and that 25 per cent were iron deficient. Women with iron deficiency were found to have higher proportions of mild, moderate and severe anaemia compared to women without iron deficiency.

“Women of reproductive age tend to be more susceptible to anaemia due to heavy periods as well as the physical challenges that are often associated with pregnancy and childbirth,” Miss Neson told JIS News.

The researcher pointed out that anaemia remains a significant health problem among WRAs in Jamaica, and the research team recommends further studies to evaluate educational and other interventions among this group.

Anaemia is defined as an individual not having enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.

Anaemia can cause tiredness, weakness or shortness of breath.

Broader health effects of anaemia include increased risk of morbidity and mortality, which reduces a country’s productivity, impacting economic and social development.