Factors affecting anaemia among women of reproductive age in Nepal: a multilevel and spatial analysis

Objective The main objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting anaemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Nepal using spatial and multilevel epidemiological analysis. Design This cross-sectional study analysed data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. Spatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS software V.10.8 to identify the hot and cold spots of anaemia among WRA (15-49 years). Data were analysed using multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis. Setting Nepal. Participants A total of 6414 WRA were included in the analysis. Main outcome measure Anaemia defined by WHO as haemoglobin level less than 120 g/L in non-pregnant women and less than 110 g/L in pregnant women. Results The spatial analysis showed that statistically significant hotspots of anaemia were in the southern Terai region (four districts in province 1, eight districts in province 2, one district in Bagmati province, two districts in province 5 and one district in Sudurpaschim province) of Nepal. At the individual level, women who underwent female sterilisation (adjusted OR, aOR: 3.61, 95% CI 1.10 to 11.84), with no education (aOR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.39), and from middle socioeconomic class families (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.68) were more likely to be anaemic, whereas, older women (>35 years) (aOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.97) and those women who were using hormonal contraceptives (aOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.90) were less likely to be anaemic. At the community level, women from province 2 (aOR=2.97, 95% CI: 1.52 to 5.82) had higher odds of being anaemic. Conclusion WRA had higher odds of developing anaemia, and it varied by the geographical regions. Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions can be tailored based on the factors identified in this study to curb the high burden of anaemia.

Automated summary

The study identified the southern Terai region of Nepal as a hotspot for anaemia, with factors such as lack of education, belonging to middle socioeconomic class, and undergoing female sterilisation increasing the likelihood of anaemia among women of reproductive age. On the other hand, older women and those using hormonal contraceptives had lower odds of being anaemic. Interventions targeting nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive factors can help reduce the burden of anaemia in Nepal.