Anaemia among women is a major public health concern globally. In developing
countries, nutritional anaemia may be due to poor bioavailability of dietary iron,
haemoglobinopathies, or intestinal parasites. The study objectives were to determine the
prevalence of anaemia and current nutrient intakes essential to erythropoiesis among
women of reproductive age (WRA) in peri-urban settlements in the Ga-East
Municipality, Accra, Ghana. This cross-sectional study assessed the nutrient intake,
sickling and haemoglobin levels of 134 women aged 15-49 years enrolled in a peanutbased
field trial at baseline. A pretested semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire
was used to assess energy and nutrient intake using the Food Processor (ESHA) software.
Whole blood was used to determine full blood count using the haematology automated
analyser. Sickling was determined by blood staining. Anaemia was classified based on
recommended cut-offs. Chi-square analysis was used as a test of independence between
anaemia and age groups. Linear regression was used to determine predictors of
haemoglobin concentration. The mean age of the women was 29 ± 8 years. The mean
total caloric intake was 2315 ± 915 kcal, whilst protein and fat intakes were 67 ± 27g and
68± 30g, respectively. Almost three-quarters of the women met the recommended dietary
allowance (RDA) for iron and vitamin C. However, only a third met the RDA for fat,
and about two-thirds met their needs for energy and protein. None of the women met the
RDA for folate which is integral for haem formation. Also 17% (23/134) of the women
were sickle cell anaemia positive. Mean haemoglobin concentration was 12.1 ± 1.8 g/dL.
Mild, moderate and severe anaemia due to iron deficiency was present in 35.8%, 6.7%
and 1.5%, of the women respectively. All categories of anaemia was present in 44% of
the women. Anaemia, prevalence increased during the early stages of the reproductive
age (15-29 years) and declined towards the end of the reproductive age period (40-49
years). An increase in age of one year was significantly associated with a 0.056 g/dL rise
in haemoglobin level (p=0.014). Anaemia due to iron deficiency exists as a public health
problem among women in peri-urban settlements in the Ga-East Municipality, Accra,
Ghana. Dietary diversity to include green leafy vegetables which are rich in folate and
pro-vitamin A may reduce the current level of prevalence.