Anemia in Migrant Pregnancy at Sansai Hospital, Chiang Mai

Abstract

Background: Migrant workers in Thailand have been increasing in numbers. Antenatal and childbirth care are common health care services among these population. While anemia in pregnancy is one of the important health problems in Thailand, there is a limited study about this problem in migrant pregnancy.

Objectives: To study the prevalence and risk factors of anemia in migrant pregnancy at Sansai Hospital

Method: Retrospective descriptive study in migrant pregnancy who received antenatal and childbirth care at Sansai hospital between 1 October 2016 and 30 June 2017, total population of 441. This study focused on baseline characteristics and obstetric factors.

Result: The prevalence of anemia in migrant pregnancy was 28.3 percent (first laboratory test during antenatal care). Approximately 80 percent of the migrant pregnancy aged between 20-34 years old. There were 355 Burmese pregnants (80.5 percent). Almost all had no education (97.5 percent). Most of them were labors worker (96.4 percent). Ninety-Four percent had no underlying disease. However, in the group with underlying disease, the study revealed association between having underlying disease and anemia significantly. (p < 0.05) Around 52.5 percent of them was first gravida (G1). Moreover, portion of anemia in pregnancy found in first antenatal care at gestational age less than 12-week group and 12 to 27-week group were 37.6 and 56.8 percent, respectively. Approximately half of migrant pregnancy had completed antenatal care program (5 sections) and had joined parenting school programs at 45.4 percent.

Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia in migrant pregnancy was higher than Sansai’s antenatal care goal (not more than 20 percent). Around half of migrant pregnancy had accessed antenatal care services from the hospital. There was the association between having underlying disease and anemia significantly.