Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) among Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Health Care Facility in North-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is the most frequent nutritional deficiency in the world and it is most prevalent in African countries including Nigeria. In pregnant women, IDA is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study was to determine the prevalence and some associated risk factors for IDA in the third trimester. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 88 women in the third trimester of pregnancy attending Antenatal Clinic (ANC) of Federal Medical Centre in Nguru, Yobe State, North-East, Nigeria. Complete Blood Count (CBC) and serum ferritin were analysed and relation of serum ferritin with some variables were determined. Results: The mean age, parity, last child birth, haematocrit and ferritin of the study participants were 26.72±6.12years, 3.58±3.43, 1.89`±1.85 years, 32.51±7.41% and 68.87±151.88ng/ml respectively. Overall prevalence of anaemia was 22/88(25%) with the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) being 53/88(60.2%); 10/88(11.4%) had IDA while ID without anaemia was present in 43/88(48.9%). There were no statistically significant correlations between maternal ferritin levels and age, surprisingly to note that ferritin levels were not significantly associated with parity, LCB and GA. Conclusion: We concluded that there was a high burden of third trimester ID among the study population. Maternal age and other assessed risk factors do not have any relationships with third trimester ferritin levels.