Abstract

Perspectives of Health Care Professionals and Patients on Anemia in Afghanistan's Women of Reproductive Age

Author(s): Mamosai Zewar, and Sourabh Chakraborty

Background: Anemia is a sign of poor nutrition and health in women of reproductive age. There has been little research on anemia beliefs among health care providers and women of reproductive age in Afghanistan, which makes it difficult to understand how to improve health in a region with a high anemia prevalence. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the perception of anemia among internally displaced women of reproductive age groups in three diverse regions of Afghanistan with large number of displaced people and to obtain a better understanding of local access, availability, health-seeking behavior, and attitudes in order to recommend solutions.

Method: A purposive exploratory qualitative study was conducted among 21 participants, which includes (7) Key In-depth Informants (doctors) and (14) Focus Group Discussions (nurses and midwives) using face-to-face interviews in the Central, East, and West regions of Afghanistan.

Results: Most respondents described anemia as a condition characterized by weakness. All study participants perceived anemia as an important health problem, tending to cause adverse outcomes among women. It was found that short-term multiple pregnancy, low birth spacing, lack of family planning, poor health-seeking behavior, poor knowledge about healthy foods, and consumption of unhealthy foods, including eating mud and soil , as causes of anemia in the provinces. Nurses and midwives further endorsed this issue, sharing that most women were also poor enough to afford iron-rich food.

Conclusion: Poverty must be addressed as this lead’s women from lower socioeconomic strata to eat fewer healthy meals and have more anemia. The government must establish an effective context specific health strategic plan that focuses not just on awareness campaigns but also on reducing inequities among WRA.