Table 1 Baseline characteristics of women with/out severe anaemia after caesarean section at MRRH (N = 427)

Age in years, mean (±SD)

26.05(±5.84)

26.0(±7.52)

26.06 ± 5.70

Age category, n (%)

 15–24

194(45.4)

16(55.2)

178 (44.7)

 25–34

188 (44.0)

6(20.7)

182(45.7)

 35+

45(10.5)

7(24.1)

38(9.6)

Residence, n (%)

 Rural

250(58.5)

17(58.6)

233(58.5)

 Urban

177(41.5)

12(41.4)

165(41.5)

Marital status, n (%)

 Single

26 (6.1)

3(10.3)

23(5.8)

 Married

401(93.9)

26(89.7)

375(94.2)

Occupation, n (%)

 Employed

104(24.4)

6(20.7)

98(24.6)

 Unemployed

323(75.6)

23(79.3)

300(75.4)

Education, n (%)

 No formal

43(10.1)

4(13.8)

39(9.8)

 Primary

198(46.4)

16(55.2)

182(45.7)

  ≥ Secondary

186(43.6)

9(31.0)

177(44.5)

ANC visits, n (%)

  < 4

114(26.7)

5(17.2)

109(27.4)

  ≥ 4

313(73.3)

24(82.8)

289(72.6)

Parity, n (%)

 Primiparous

190(44.5)

10(34.5)

180(45.2)

 Multiparous

237(55.5)

19(65.5)

218(54.8)

Pre-caesarean Hb (g/dL), n (%)

  ≥ 11

365(85.5)

14(48.3)

351(88.2)

 7.0–10.9

62(14.5)

15(51.7)

47(11.8)

Prior caesarean sections, n (%)

 Index

228(53.4)

25(86.2)

203(51.0)

 Once

90(21.1)

1(3.5)

89(22.4)

  ≥ 2

109(25.5)

3(10.3)

106(26.6)

HIV status, n (%)

 Negative

397(93.0)

26(89.7)

371(93.2)

 Positive

30(7.0)

3(10.3)

27(6.8)

Caesarean section type, n (%)

 Emergency

381(89.2)

29(100.0)

352(88.4)

 Elective

46(10.8)

0(0.0)

46(11.6)

Delivered macrosomic foetus (%)

 No

401(93.9)

22(75.9)

379(95.2)

 Yes

26(6.1)

7(24.1)

19(4.8)

Prior scar, n (%)

 No

287(67.2)

26(89.7)

261(65.6)

 Yes

140(32.8)

3(10.3)

137(34.4)

Prolonged labour, n (%)

 No

324(75.9)

17(58.6)

307(77.1)

 Yes

103(24.1)

12(41.4)

91(22.9)

Multiple pregnancy, n (%)

 No

421(98.6)

28(96.6)

393(98.7)

 Yes

6 (1.4)

1(3.5)

5(1.3)

Malpresentation, n (%)

 No

382(89.5)

28(96.6)

354(88.9)

 Yes

45(10.5)

1(3.5)

44(11.1)

Severe preeclampsia, n (%)

 No

424 (99.3)

28(96.6)

396(99.5)

 Yes

3(0.7)

1(3.5)

2(0.5)