EFFECTS OF SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON IRON STORES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN ILORIN

Abstract

This study compared the serum ferritin concentrations (sFC) and haematological
parameters in anaemic and non anaemic pregnant women (subjects) and non pregnant
women (controls). It also went further to determine what effects have socio-demographic
factors, such as age, parity, weight, height, and socioeconomic status of participants and their
spouses, on iron stores (as indicated by the serum ferritin concentration, sFC) and
haematological parameters in anaemic and non anaemic pregnant women.
A total of Two Hundred and Forty women, all in the age range 20-44years and made up
of 180 otherwise healthy pregnant women (subjects) and 60 apparently healthy non pregnant
women (controls) were recruited into this study. Full blood count, Reticulocyte count, serum
ferritin concentrations and, stool and urine microscopy were done on samples obtained from
both subjects and controls.
Seventy percent (70%) of subjects in this study were anaemic as opposed to 15% in
controls. Majority(67.8%) of subjects have mild to moderate anaemia while 2.2% had severe
anaemia. Eleven of 126 anaemic pregnant women(6.1%) had frank iron deficiency anaemia(
low iron stores with subnormal values of red cell indices). The mean serum ferritin
concentrations in subjects did not differ significantly from value in controls. Serum ferritin
concentrations correlated negatively with haemoglobin concentration in subjects while the
correlation between these parameters in controls is positive. This parameter also curiously
appear to be increasing as we move down the social ladder in anaemic and non anaemic
subjects while the mean Hb is decreasing in this direction. Two subjects (1.1%) and two of
controls (3.3%) have Ascaris in their stool while the urine samples of all subjects and controls
did not reveal Ova or Cyst of parasites on microscopy.


This study has shown that anaemia in pregnancy is still highly prevalent(70%) and
severe anaemia still occur in pregnancy. In addition, pregnant women, even when their iron
stores are adequate, still become anaemic suggesting that they may be less able to mobilize
their stores of iron than their non pregnant counterparts. Also, a possible raised prevalence of
sub clinical chronic inflammatory condition as we move down the social ladder may account for
the increasing serum ferritin concentration with decreasing Hb in that direction. Infestation by
parasite that cause blood loss such as hookworms and Schiztosomes are very rare in
participants in this study.