Fatemeh Sedghi, Sahar Mohammadnabizadeh, Fereshteh Najafi, Maryam Mohammadi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Background and Objectives: Anemia is a major public health concern among pregnant women and is associated with adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and increased maternal mortality. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending comprehensive health service centers in Sarakhs, Northeast Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, data from 904 pregnant women registered in the Sina system in 2023 were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level below 11 g/dL, and logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between potential predictors and anemia.
Results: The mean age of participants was 27.2 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Sarakhs was 17.7% (95% CI: 15.2%–20.5%). In multivariable analysis, rural residence was associated with lower odds of anemia (OR = 0.58, P = 0.01), as was non-Sistani ethnicity compared with Sistani ethnicity (OR = 0.44, P = 0.003). A history of low birth weight (<2500 g) significantly increased the odds of anemia (OR = 7.14, P < 0.001). Compared with underweight mothers (BMI <18), those with normal weight, overweight, and obesity had 58%, 71%, and 78% lower odds of anemia, respectively (OR = 0.42, 0.29, and 0.22). Absence of kidney disease (OR = 0.22, P = 0.03) and iron supplementation before pregnancy (OR = 0.50, P = 0.05) were also protective. No other variables showed significant associations with anemia.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of ethnic and geographic factors in the prevention of anemia in pregnancy and underscore the need for targeted interventions, including thalassemia screening and strengthening preconception and antenatal iron supplementation programs, to reduce anemia and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
