Overweight/Obesity and Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: In low-resource settings, urbanization has intensified the double burden of malnutrition (DBM), where undernutrition and overnutrition coexist within the same individuals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of concurrent anemia and overweight/obesity (OWOB) among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Burkina Faso. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study used data from the 2021 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey (BFDHS-V). A total of 7,987 non-pregnant women aged 15–49 year were included. OWOB was defined using body mass index (≥25 kg/m²), and anemia was assessed based on hemoglobin concentration (<12 g/l). Weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of concurrent OWOB and anemia were also estimated. Multivariate logistic regression for complex survey data (svyglm function in R) was used to identify associated factors. Results: The prevalence of DBM associated with OWOB was 10.1%. The coexistence OWOB and anemia showed a statistically significant positive association with higher wealth index [(Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR)=1.87; 95 % CI: 1.16, 3.01)], the highest wealth index (AOR=3.28; 95 % CI: 1.99, 5.40;), women‟s older age 20-29 year (AOR=1.86; CI :1.25, 2.77), 30-39 (AOR=2.12; CI :1.40, 3.21) and 40 years or more (AOR=2.24; CI :1.45, 3.45), and primary education (AOR=1.51; CI :1.04, 2.19). Conclusions: DBM associates OWOB with anemia as an emerging problem in Burkina Faso with a prevalence reaching 10%. A positive association was found with older women living in household with higher wealth index. Therefore, urgent strategies and actions need to be put in place in order to avert this trend