Abstract
Hemogloin (Hb) and serum ferritin levels are used to assess anemia in pregnancy. Some studies referred to the influence of maternal age, body mass index (BMI) and parity on Hb and serum ferritin levels. The study aimed to examine the possible association of maternal Hb and serum ferritin with maternal age, parity, and BMI in a sample of pregnant women in Baghdad.
 Ninety healthy pregnant women, grouped in three equal groups according to the pregnancy trimester, and thirty apparently healthy non-pregnant women from Baghdad were enrolled in this observational study. Blood and serum samples were obtained for the estimation of Hb and serum ferritin levels.
 The pooled data of participants showed a negative correlation between parity and each of blood Hb concentrations (r= -0.147, P=0.046) and plasma ferritin levels (r= -0.186, P= 0.038). The negative correlation of parity with blood Hb concentration was reported in participants in the third trimester of pregnancy (r= -0.270, P=0.048); and between parity and plasma ferritin levels in the second (r= -0.088, P= 0.046) and third (r= -0.398, P=0.029) trimester pregnant. The study did not report a significant correlation between age and BMI with blood Hb concentrations or serum ferritin levels in pregnant women at any trimester of pregnancy.
 There is a negative correlation between parity and each of blood Hb concentration and serum ferritin levels in pregnant women in Baghdad. While, there is no such correlation with maternal age and BMI at any trimester of pregnancy.
Highlights
Anemia during pregnancy represents one of the most prevalent public health problems, causing negative maternal and fetal health effects [1] .The World Health Organization (WHO) defines anemia in pregnancy as the condition where hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is less than 11g/dL, at any trimester of pregnancy [2] .Iraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical ScienceWhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, anemia in pregnancy is when Hb concentration less than 11 g/dL at the first trimester and less than 10.5 g/dL in the second or third trimesters [3]
There is a negative correlation between parity and each of blood Hb concentration and serum ferritin levels in pregnant women in Baghdad
There is no such correlation with maternal age and body mass index (BMI) at any trimester of pregnancy
Summary
Anemia during pregnancy represents one of the most prevalent public health problems, causing negative maternal and fetal health effects [1] .The World Health Organization (WHO) defines anemia in pregnancy as the condition where hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is less than 11g/dL, at any trimester of pregnancy [2] .Iraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical ScienceWhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, anemia in pregnancy is when Hb concentration less than 11 g/dL at the first trimester and less than 10.5 g/dL in the second or third trimesters [3]. It is estimated that 56% of pregnant women in low and middle-income countries and more than 10% in high-income countries have anemia. Serum ferritin is sensitive indicator of body iron stores, and it is considered as a reliable indicator of iron status in pregnant women. [8] At the beginning of pregnancy, serum ferritin concentrations vary more widely than corresponding Hb values [9]. Some studies referred to the influence of maternal age, body mass index (BMI) and parity on Hb and ferritin levels [10,11,12]. The aim of the present work is to study the possible association of maternal Hb and serum ferritin with maternal age, parity, and BMI in a sample of Iraqi pregnant women
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