Anaemia In Pregnancy

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this is to assess anemia in pregnant using a case study of women attending antenatal care in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu state. Specifically, the study seeks to;

1. Determine the factors that predispose to anaemia in pregnancy amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care at UNTH.

2. Assess the strategies used by the pregnant women for the prevention and management of anaemia in UNTH

3. Determine the challenges encountered in the management of Anaemia among pregnant women in UNTH

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions were formulated based on the research problem and objectives;

1. What are the factors that predispose to anaemia in pregnancy amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care at UNTH?

2. What are the strategies used by the pregnant women for the prevention and management of anaemia in UNTH?

3. What are the challenges encountered in the management of Anaemia among pregnant women in UNTH?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

Findings from the study would generate data on how pregnant women in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital seek routine healthcare during pregnancy for management of anaemia, and the eventual outcome. This information could serve as a basis for nurses, midwives, and other health workers to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. This could be done through improved maternal health care services and encouraged use through evidence based health education programmes. Also, findings will help the health care profession to create more awareness on maternal health and antenatal care services utilization targeted at mothers, because maternal health services when adopted will help maintain optimal health during pregnancy as well as timely management of problems like anaemia, should they arise.  

1.6 JUSTFICATION OF THE STUDY

The study was conducted in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu state. The justification for the study was that the report on maternal health and safe motherhood by WHO showed that maternal mortality is unacceptably high especially in developing nations like Nigeria and progress to reduce it in most regions of the world is slow (WHO, 2014). These rates could be attributed to pregncancy relted complications, issues and concerns, hence the need for this study on to assess anemia in pregnant using a case study of women attending antenatal care in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital with the aim of developing strategies to make for better health outcome for mother and infant.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY 

This study is delimited to assessing the management of anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Enugu. The variables covered in this study include the knowledge on anaemia amongst pregnant women, prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy among pregnant women, predisposing factors to anaemia in pregnancy amongst pregnant women, and strategies used by the pregnant women for the prevention and management of anaemia in Madonna University Teaching Hospital.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Anaemia: is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiologic needs, which vary by age, sex, altitude, smoking, and pregnancy status. Anemia in pregnancy refers to a hemoglobin concentration of less than 110 g/L (less than 11 g/dL) in venous blood implying a reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

Management: refers to a system of coordinated healthcare interventions and communications for people with conditions/diseases in which patient self-care efforts are significantly required.

Pregnant Women: this refers to women who are in their first to third semester of pregnancy; which is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman.