Serum Iron Status of Pregnant Women in Central Hospital Sapele, South-South Nigeria

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.