Anaemia in pregnancy is the most common public health concern in both developed and developing worlds like Palestine. Little is known about this significant health issue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perception, opinions and attitudes of anaemia among refugees pregnant women in Gaza strip. A cross-sectional study was employed among a random sample of 164 women or subjects, with a response rate of 81%. The survey was conducted at UNRWA antenatal health centers at refugee camps in Gaza strip. The study was approved by United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) health department. The study elucidated that a higher rate of women were knowledgeable and had ideas on anaemia, however, some women had inadequate knowledge on anaemia during pregnancy. There were a concern and misconception regarding some issues on anaemia such as; lack of knowledge on the effect of drinking tea on iron absorption; and on the side effects of iron pills during pregnancy. Highly positive opinions and attitudes toward anaemia were observed in most women. The study found that a high proportion of women were dissatisfied with the volume of health education sessions on anaemia at UNRWA antenatal health centers and many women had not attended or joined such sessions. In general, the study declined to find a significant differences regarding anaemia between women with and those without health education sessions on anaemia. Finally, the study suggests that, an effective and a clear health education strategy is needed in order to improve women perceptions, awareness, opinions and attitudes regarding anaemia in Palestine. Further researches are important and needed in this scope.
| Published in | Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 7, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13 |
| Page(s) | 109-115 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Perceptions, Anaemia, Refugees, Pregnant Women, UNRWA, Gaza Strip
| [1] | World health organization (WHO). The annual report of World health organization: reducing risks, promoting healthy life, WHO; 2002. |
| [2] | N. Mikki, H. F. Abdul-Rahim, H. Stigum and G. Holmboe-Osttesen. Anaemia prevalence and associated sociodemographic and dietary factors among Palestinian adolescents in the World Bank; 2011. Palestine. |
| [3] | Knowledge and practices of maternity regarding anaemia and iron supplementation in Rural Malawi: a cross-sectional study. African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development. 2009; 9 (1): 550-554. Available from: http://www.bioline.org.br/request?nd0900 (cited 17 May 2019). |
| [4] | World health organization (WHO). Anaemia. WHO; 2010. Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/anaemia/en/(cited March 2019). |
| [5] | World health organization (WHO). Iron deficiency anaemia: assessment, prevention, and control. A guide for program managers. Geneva. WHO; 2001 (WHO/NHD/01.3). |
| [6] | World health organization (WHO). United Nations Children Fund Report- Focusing on anaemia: towards and integrated approach for effective anaemia control. WHO and UNICEF; 2004. |
| [7] | Minaz Mawani, Savera Aziz Ali, Gulshan Bano and Sumera Aziz Ali. Iron Deficiency Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age, an Important Public Health Problem: Situation Analysis. Reproductive System & Sexual Disorders: Current Research. 2016; 5 (3). DOI: 10.4172/2161-038X. 1000187. |
| [8] | A Taha, S Azhar, T Lone, G Murtaza, SA Khan, and others. Iron Deficiency Anaemia In Reproductive Age Women Attending Obstetrics And Gynecology Outpatient Of University Health Centre In Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 2014; 11 (2). |
| [9] | Ministry of Palestinian health. (MOPH). Women health: health status in Palestine. MOH; 2016. |
| [10] | Candio F., Hofmeyr GJ. Treatments of iron-deficiency anaemia among pregnant women. RHL commentary. The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: WHO 2007. |
| [11] | Di Renzo, Spano, Giardina, Brillo, Clerici & Roura. Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy. SAGE Journal, Women Health. 2015; 11 (6): 891-900. https://doi.org/10.2217/whe. 15.35. |
| [12] | Öztürk, Mustafa, et al. "Anemia prevalence at the time of pregnancy detection." Turkish journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2017; 14 (3): 176. |
| [13] | United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). Study protocol on assessment of the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and children (6 months- 3years) of age. Palestine; 2006. |
| [14] | World health organization (WHO). Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1995-2005, Geneva: WHO; 2005. |
| [15] | A Khader, H Madi, F Ricardo and G Sabatinelli. Anaemia among Palestinian pregnant women in Palestine. 2009; 12 (12): 2416-2420. |
| [16] | Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Ministry of health report –nutrition department. National Nutrition Surveillance System 2009 Report. Palestine; 2009: 71. |
| [17] | United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). What We Do: Health. Available from: https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/health (cited 24 June 2019). |
| [18] | United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). Fact sheets. Jan. 2009. |
| [19] | A. Daher, Rafael T., Mikolajczyk, Annette E., and others. Attitudes toward wife beating among Palestinian women of reproductive age from three cities in West Bank. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2010; 25 (3): 518-537. |
| [20] | Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Palestine nutrition profile-food and nutrition division. FAO; 2005: 13-14. |
| [21] | United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). Annual report of the department of health. UNRWA; 2012. |
| [22] | United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA). Epidemiological bulletin for Gaza strip. Palestine. 2010; 2 (4): 4. |
| [23] | World health organization (WHO). Health condition in the Occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Jolan. WHO; 2009: 4. (A62/INF. DOC./2). |
| [24] | Amani Waleed A. Iron deficiency anaemia among pregnant women in Nablus district: prevalence, knowledge, attitudes and practices. West Bank, Palestine; 2007: 31-37. |
| [25] | Kristei Leong M. D. Featured health and wellness contributor. Available from: www.associatedcontent.com/article/2313687/the_side_effects_of_taking_iron_supplements.html (cited April 2019). |
APA Style
Marwan Mosleh, Koustuv Dalal. (2019). Anaemia Among Refugees Pregnant Women in Gaza Strip: Perceptions, Awareness and Opinions and Attitudes. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 7(4), 109-115. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13
ACS Style
Marwan Mosleh; Koustuv Dalal. Anaemia Among Refugees Pregnant Women in Gaza Strip: Perceptions, Awareness and Opinions and Attitudes. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2019, 7(4), 109-115. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13
AMA Style
Marwan Mosleh, Koustuv Dalal. Anaemia Among Refugees Pregnant Women in Gaza Strip: Perceptions, Awareness and Opinions and Attitudes. J Gynecol Obstet. 2019;7(4):109-115. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13,
author = {Marwan Mosleh and Koustuv Dalal},
title = {Anaemia Among Refugees Pregnant Women in Gaza Strip: Perceptions, Awareness and Opinions and Attitudes},
journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
volume = {7},
number = {4},
pages = {109-115},
doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20190704.13},
abstract = {Anaemia in pregnancy is the most common public health concern in both developed and developing worlds like Palestine. Little is known about this significant health issue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perception, opinions and attitudes of anaemia among refugees pregnant women in Gaza strip. A cross-sectional study was employed among a random sample of 164 women or subjects, with a response rate of 81%. The survey was conducted at UNRWA antenatal health centers at refugee camps in Gaza strip. The study was approved by United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) health department. The study elucidated that a higher rate of women were knowledgeable and had ideas on anaemia, however, some women had inadequate knowledge on anaemia during pregnancy. There were a concern and misconception regarding some issues on anaemia such as; lack of knowledge on the effect of drinking tea on iron absorption; and on the side effects of iron pills during pregnancy. Highly positive opinions and attitudes toward anaemia were observed in most women. The study found that a high proportion of women were dissatisfied with the volume of health education sessions on anaemia at UNRWA antenatal health centers and many women had not attended or joined such sessions. In general, the study declined to find a significant differences regarding anaemia between women with and those without health education sessions on anaemia. Finally, the study suggests that, an effective and a clear health education strategy is needed in order to improve women perceptions, awareness, opinions and attitudes regarding anaemia in Palestine. Further researches are important and needed in this scope.},
year = {2019}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Anaemia Among Refugees Pregnant Women in Gaza Strip: Perceptions, Awareness and Opinions and Attitudes AU - Marwan Mosleh AU - Koustuv Dalal Y1 - 2019/07/10 PY - 2019 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13 DO - 10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13 T2 - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics JF - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics JO - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics SP - 109 EP - 115 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2376-7820 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20190704.13 AB - Anaemia in pregnancy is the most common public health concern in both developed and developing worlds like Palestine. Little is known about this significant health issue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perception, opinions and attitudes of anaemia among refugees pregnant women in Gaza strip. A cross-sectional study was employed among a random sample of 164 women or subjects, with a response rate of 81%. The survey was conducted at UNRWA antenatal health centers at refugee camps in Gaza strip. The study was approved by United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) health department. The study elucidated that a higher rate of women were knowledgeable and had ideas on anaemia, however, some women had inadequate knowledge on anaemia during pregnancy. There were a concern and misconception regarding some issues on anaemia such as; lack of knowledge on the effect of drinking tea on iron absorption; and on the side effects of iron pills during pregnancy. Highly positive opinions and attitudes toward anaemia were observed in most women. The study found that a high proportion of women were dissatisfied with the volume of health education sessions on anaemia at UNRWA antenatal health centers and many women had not attended or joined such sessions. In general, the study declined to find a significant differences regarding anaemia between women with and those without health education sessions on anaemia. Finally, the study suggests that, an effective and a clear health education strategy is needed in order to improve women perceptions, awareness, opinions and attitudes regarding anaemia in Palestine. Further researches are important and needed in this scope. VL - 7 IS - 4 ER -
Information
Email: