Applied Medical Research. 2022;
9(1):(128-173)
Serum Iron Status of Pregnant Women in Central Hospital Sapele, South-South Nigeria
Kingsley Chukwuka Amaihunwa, Emmanuel Asuquo Etim and Anthony Chijioke Ezimah
Abstract
Background: Low iron status and Iron deficiency anemia are major prenatal complications predisposing
pregnant women to preventable causes of premature delivery, intrauterine growth retardation and neonatal
and prenatal death in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and compare serum iron status in
pregnant and non-pregnant women in Sapele South-South Nigeria.
Materials and methods: A total of three hundred and sixty (360) subjects were enrolled for this study comprising
of 78 non-pregnant women and 282 pregnant women. 5ml of venous blood were collected from
participant into EDTA and plan containers respectively. The serum obtain from clotted sample was used for
serum iron estimation using iron reduction method while EDTA blood was used for PCV and hemoglobin
estimation.
Results: Non-pregnant women had mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV) value of 0.37±0.02L/L with hemoglobin
level of 12.3±0.9g/dl and serum iron level of 132.6 ± 37.0 ug/dl. On the other hand, women with pregnancy
had a mean PCV level of 0.32 ± 0.04L/L, with hemoglobin and serum Iron level of 10.8 ± 1.5g/dl and 96.4
± 48.3 ug/dl respectively.
Conclusion: Pregnant women had a significantly lower level of serum iron when compare to non-pregnant
women this result points to the possibility of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Sapele
South-South Nigeria it is believed that, information provided will help in clinical care for pregnant women
in this locality.
