Perceptions and practices of midwives toward the detection of anemia during first antenatal care visits at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital: a cross-sectional study.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Anemia in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity, yet early detection at the first antenatal care (ANC) visit is often sub-optimal. This study assessed midwives’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding the detection of anemia during first ANC visits at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 56 purposively selected midwives. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel and presented as tables and figures. Results: Overall, 14 (25.0%) midwives were aged 25–29 years, followed by 12 (21.4%) aged 30-34 years. Half of the midwives (28; 50.0%) held a diploma qualification, while 18 (32.1%) held a certificate.38 (67.9%) midwives correctly identified the WHO hemoglobin cutoff of 11 g/dL, 48 (85.7%) recognized hemoglobin estimation as the primary diagnostic test, and 32 (57.1%) correctly classified anemia severity. Most (45; 80.4%) knew that hemoglobin testing should be performed at the first ANC visit. Perceptions were highly positive: 50 (89.3%) believed first-visit screening is essential, and 46 (82.1%) supported mandatory testing, while workload and stock-outs were perceived as major barriers by 41 (73.2%) and 45 (80.4%), respectively. In practice, 43 (76.8%) routinely requested or performed hemoglobin tests, 48 (85.7%) assessed pallor, 46 (82.1%) provided iron–folate counseling, and 40 (71.4%) documented results; 44 (78.6%) referred severe anemia. Conclusion: Midwives generally demonstrated good knowledge and positive perceptions, but systemic constraints and practice gaps limited optimal detection of anemia at the first ANC visit. Recommendations: Strengthening supplies, staffing, refresher training, supervision, and documentation will improve screening and follow-up, with potential to reduce preventable maternal and perinatal complications and enhance the quality of antenatal care in similar low-resource settings.
DOI: 10.51168/m2nr4p82
Institution: Mildmay Uganda
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7202049110