EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REGIONAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TREND IN ANAEMIA CASE REDUCTION ACROSS DISTRICTS IN GREATER ACCRA, GHANA

Abstract

Background

Anaemia in pregnant women is a public health issue, particularly in developing countries including Ghana, and pregnant women and children are mostly affected. Preceding trend analysis has not been conducted among pregnant women with anaemia in Greater Accra. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the trend in anaemia case reduction and the effectiveness of Regional Health Interventions across Districts in Greater Accra.

Methods

 The study was conducted in all 29 Districts in the Greater Accra Region. It utilized datasets from 2018 to 2022 of the District Health Information Management System from the Ghana Health Service. The data were restricted to pregnant women with anaemia at 36 weeks of pregnancy, whose haemoglobin levels were recorded. The sample sizes from 2018 to 2022 were 23513, 23691, 26297, 24148 and 22079 respectively. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 to describe anaemia prevalence from 2018 to 2022. Analysis of variance for anaemia prevalence between years and within years was also determined. Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) posthoc test of anaemia prevalence to identify the mean statistical differences every year.

Results

Findings from the study revealed an increased level of anaemia prevalence in 2019 (54.5%) and the lowest figure in 2021 (45.2%). Over the years, the mean prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women has reduced. The gradual decline in anaemia prevalence may be due to intervention programmes put in place by the Ghana Health Service and non-governmental organizations (NGOs,) to reduce anaemia in pregnant women. The significant difference in the prevalence of anaemia over the years was due to the prevalence in 2022.

 Conclusion

This study emphasized the five-year trend of anaemia in pregnancy at 36 weeks of gestation in all 29 districts in Greater Accra. Discoveries from the study revealed a steady decrease in the prevalence of pregnancy anaemia in the various Districts. Even though there was a decline in the prevalence rate in the study areas, Districts such as Ningo Prampram. Ada East. Ada West. Kpone Katamanso and Adentan recorded an increase in the prevalence of pregnancy anaemia. Further research work is needed to understand the upsurge in the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy despite the intervention programmes. Anaemia in pregnant women requires earnest interventions to reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Continuous health education and advocacy programmes are required to help reduce anaemia in pregnant women.