Multilevel Modeling on the Anemia status of Women in Ethiopia

Introduction: Anemia is the most common public problem caused by nutritional deficiency diseases among women of reproductive age. The main objective of this study was determining the regional variation and associated factors of anemia status among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 14,489 women who enrolled in Ethiopia demographic and health survey data of 2016. Binary and multilevel logistic regression was carried out for variables to determine associated factors with anemia status of women and its regional variations at ascertained of 5% level. This study was used information criteria to compared candidates models. Results: This finding shows that women who use improved source of drinking water (OR=1.98, 95%CI=1.05, 3.72), being in middle wealth index (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.10, 0.63), being in rich wealth index (OR=0.42, 95%CI=0.19, 0.94), having age at 1st birth in 20-24 years(OR=0.24, 95%CI=0.11, 0.53), having number of living children 1-2(OR=3.68, 95%CI=3.48, 4.98), having number of living children 3-4(OR=3.03, 95%CI=2.48, 4.05) and women who used government health center for place of delivery(OR=0.96, 95%CI=0.22, 1.70) were significantly related to anemia status of women. Conclusion: This finding concluded that there is a significant variation of anemia status of women between regions in Ethiopia. Women in the middle and rich wealth index was less likely to be anemic than poor. Women having age at 1st birth in 20-24 years and women who used government health center for place of delivery were less likely to be anemic. But women having number of living children 1-2 and 3-4 were more likely to be more anemic than no child. Likewise, women who use improved source of drinking water were more likely to be anemic as compared to an unimproved source of drinking water. It is recommended that health workers should begive attention to these proximate determinants on anemia at regional level.