Aim: To assess the magnitude and the contributing factors of anemia among antenatal women; find out the association between anemia with selected demographic variables and contributing factors among antenatal women.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional research design.

Methods: Kaoru Ishikawa fishbone diagram was used to assess the magnitude of anemia and to identify contributing factors among antenatal women. Cluster sampling technique was used to select 312 antenatal women of 24-40 weeks of gestation from selected rural community. Instruments used for data collection were a validated semi-structured and structured interview schedule and bio-physiological measures of hemoglobin estimation.

Results: Majority of antenatal women belonged to age group of 19-25 years. Most of the antenatal women had completed secondary education. Majority of antenatal women got married below the age of 18 years and multigravida women. Study findings revealed that 68.91% antenatal women had anemia; amidst 36.22% had moderate anemia, 32.05% had mild anemia and 0.64% had severe anemia. Identified contributing factors related to pregnancy were teenage pregnancy and not taking iron folic acid supplementation (IFA). Contributing factors related to pre-existing anemia was menorrhagia. Dietary pattern related contributing factors was faulty dietary intake. Contributing factors related to disease related factors were history of worm infestation and piles/ hemorrhoids. Statistical significant association existed between level of anemia with education, per capita income, age of marriage, gravida, parity and inter pregnancy interval, teenage pregnancy, IFA supplementation, IFA before food, menorrhagia, meals <3 times/ day and additional diet, vegetables, fruits, milk/milk products, worm infestation, deworming during pregnancy and piles/ hemorrhoids. No association found between level of anemia with religion, gestation, regular antenatal checkup, blood loss in last delivery, history of fatigue, shortness of breath, uses of mosquito net, drink tea/coffee after meals, history of malaria, urinary tract infection and chronic disease.

Conclusions: Magnitude of anemia in the present study was 68.91%.