PATTERN OF RED CELL MORPHOLOGY AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC IN AKURE, SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is a global health problem especially due to poor dietary intake. This study was carried out to ascertain the morphological pattern of anaemia among women and the factors associated with it. Method: It was a cross sectional study conducted at the antenatal clinic of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. A total number of 400 pregnant women were recruited by systematic sampling and interviewed with structured questionnaires with their blood samples taken for red cell indices. Data was analysed using SPSS Version 22. Descriptive statistics were done for relevant variables and a Chi square test was used to nd an association between the variables and anaemia. Signicance was set at p<0.05. Results: Most of the women had normocytic hypochromic anaemia 2 2 especially among those with less intake of animal products (X = 69.9, p=0.013) and green vegetables (X = 25.9 , p=0.039). Conclusion: The reported normocytic hypochromic anaemia in this study showed that efforts must be intensied in counselling our women on the intake of iron rich diets which should be complemented by the routine use of haematinics.