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was 1.64 eel 1.21 to 2 .21) . No increased risk (RR=l.04)
however wa s noted when mUltipara (2 -4 children) were compared
with g rand-multipara (more than 5). Teenage primipara
comprised 23 .9% of sUbjects with pos tpar tum a naemi a as
c ompa r ed wi t h 11 .1t of sUb jects without anaemia, a f i nding
t ha t is also statistically significant. The relative r i sk f or
anaemia in a teenage primipara is 1.73 ee l 1.30 to 4.47) and
this risk was statistically s i gn ifi cant (p =O.Q04).
It s hou ld be remembered that pr e -delivery anaemia i n the
study p opula t i o n ha d also earlier been observed t o be
associated wit h a younger mean age of SUbjects and with
occupat ion, but however not wit h age groups, educational
leve l , o r parity. The extent t he refore t o which these
variables now contribute to t he occurrence of postpartum
anaemia will ne ed to be further investigated .
Comparison by ante- natal care characteristics, in t e rms
o f whe t he r SUbjects had any ca r e , t h e onset of care, and t he
number o f clinic attendances revealed no statistically
s i gnific a nt diff e r ence s in the patterns of pregnancy ca re in
SUbj e ct s Who have postpartum anaem ia as compared to those who
do not . This find i ng is no t surprising, s ince some an tenatal
care occurred almost universally (95 .0\) in this e cuay
popu lation .
Whe n the l abour experienc es o f SUbjects f ou nd to ha ve
postpartum anaemia were compa red to t ho s e with no anaemia,