MAGNITUDE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AMONG ADULT DIABETIC PATIENTSATTENDING GELEMSO GENERAL HOSPITAL, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Anemia is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), intensifying morbidity and mortality. Despite this fact, most of diabetic patients in our community are rarely tested for anemia and little is known about its magnitude and associated factors. Objective:the aim of this study was toassess the magnitude and associated factors of iron deficiency anemia among adult diabetic patients attending Gelemso General Hospital, West Hararghe, Oromia regional state, Eastern Ethiopia, fromMay 20 to August10, 2020. Methods:A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 325 randomly selected adult diabetes mellitus patients. A pretested and structured questionnaire wasused to collect information on socio-demographics, nutritional andbehavioral factors.The data werecoded and entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS)version 22for analysis. Data were described using frequency, percentage, tables and figures. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with anemia. Strength of association was measured using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, and P-value less than 0.05 considered as statistically significant. Result: The magnitude of anemia among the study participants was 30.2%(95% confidence interval (CI): 25%-35%). The magnitude was higher in males than females (36% vs 20.5% ). Male gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.1), DM duration of five years and above(AOR= 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.2), taking oral hypoglycemic agent (AOR= 4.5, 95%CI: 1.5, 13.3), patients with type IIDM (AOR = 6.0, 95% CI: 1.9, 19.5)and havingdiabetic complication (AOR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.8) were significantly associated with anemia. Conclusion: Anemia was a moderate public heath problem among adult DM patients in the current study. Patients with DM complication, being male in gender, oral medications, type II DM and longer duration of DM were likely to have anemia. Therefore, routine screening and proper treatment for anemia in all diabetic patients in health institutions aid in improving their quality of life. Regular monitoring and proper managementof various complications of DMalso helps in reducing the occurrence of anemiain diabetic patients.