Prevalence of Anaemia in COVID-19 Positive Women of Reproductive Age in an Isolation Center in Rivers State, Nigeria https://doi.org/10.60787/NMJ-64-1-271

Abstract

Background: Women of reproductive age are faced with a myriad of health challenges that affect their reproductive health including anaemia. The impact of anaemia on disease outcomes in women is also relevant in other disease conditions including COVID-19 infection. This study was done to determine the prevalence of anaemia in COVID-19-positive women of reproductive age in an isolation center in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a descriptive study of 240 COVID COVID-19-positive patients over an 11-month duration. The age bracket for reproductive health for women was 15 – 49 years and the cut-off for anaemia was 12 g/dl (WHO Standard). Informed consent was obtained from the subjects. Information was obtained with a structured proforma and analyzed using SPSS Version 25.

Results: There were 79 (32.9%) women of reproductive age out of the 240 Covid-19 positive subjects. The mean age of the women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) was 31.13 ±7.08 years. The prevalence of COVID-19-positive women of reproductive age was 69 (87%). The prevalence of anemia amongst these age groups was 33 (41.8%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of COVID-19-positive infection and anaemia amongst women of reproductive age were 87% and 41.8% respectively. Due to the many health challenges faced by women of reproductive age such as cancers, HIV, STIs, anaemia, as well as COVID-19. Public health measures should be taken to prevent them from contracting COVID-19 infection.