AWARENESS OF ANEMIA AMONG RURAL PREGNANT WOMEN IN BAGERHAT DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Background: Anemia in pregnancyis a decrease in the total red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin in the blood duringpregnancyor in the period following pregnancy. It is the condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity of hemoglobin. Anemia diminishes the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen. Patients with anemia may feel tired, fatigue easily, appear pale, develop palpitations, and become shortness of breath. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate about the awareness of anemia among rural pregnant women in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh Materials and Method: A sample of 29 pregnant women (PW) from a total of listed 111 women from three upazilas of Bagerhat district was considered for assessing the awareness of Anemia. Those three upazilas were taken at random first from the nine upazilas of Bagerhat district.Data on different variables were collected directly from the selected women through a prescribed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics e.g., maximum, minimum, mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, etc. of the variables together with their standard error of their estimates were considered foranalyzing sample characteristics of the study. The relationship between two nominal variables is assessed by cross tabulation with test statistics Phi and Cramers V. The bootstrapresampling method was used to understand the population parameters. Results: About86% pregnant women have no idea about anemia and also their causes. All respondents feel weakness that indicates they have the symptom of anemia. The phi andcramersV imply that the relationship between heard about anemia and the source of information is highly significant (p= 0.000). Among the awarded women in Bagerhat district, probability of getting awareness from service provider was0.917 and that from relatives was 0.083. Among the population, the probability of contribution of the service provider was0.379. Probability of unknown was 0.586 indicating much populationin Bagerhat district werenot aware about anemia. Probability of getting information of anemia from mother was zero indicating very recently service providers have started their program in Bagerhat district. Conclusion: Probability of getting information of anemia from mother is zero indicating very recently service providers have started their program in Bagerhat district. Therefore, this program should be continued until the probability of getting information from mother will be closed to 1. Recommendation: Government as well as the NGOs should continue & enhance the present awareness program in Bagerhat district.