ABSTRACT

Anaemia is one of the adverse complications in pregnant women in the developing countries, which may affect both the mother and her child’s health. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women and infants between the ages of 0 to 5 years in Umuahia North Local Government Area. One hundred (100) consenting pregnant women and one hundred and fifty (150) infants were used for the study. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Blood samples were collected under sterile condition and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelets, selenium, iron, folate, vitamin B₁₂, ascorbate and vitamin A were determined. Results showed that iron and selenium concentrations of pregnant women who attended Anelechi hospital were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those who attended FMC. The vitamin B₁₂ concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower for pregnant women who attended Anelechi Hospital compared to those who attended FMC. However, vitamin A and Vitamin B₉ concentrations of pregnant women who attended Anelechi hospital were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Results showed that vitamin A, vitamin B₁₂ and iron concentrations of infants who attended FMC were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those who attended both Anelechi and Healing Cross Hospitals, while Anelechi hospital was insignificantly (p>0.05) higher than Healing Cross Hospital. Results showed that the RBC of the pregnant women who attended FMC was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those who attended Anelechi hospital, while no significant (p>0.05) difference was observed for Hb and PCV. Results showed that Hb, PCV, MCV, Platelets, and RBC of infants who attended Anelechi, FMC and Healing Cross Hospitals were significantly (p<0.05) different. Results also showed that infants who attended Anelechi Hospital and FMC had significantly (p<0.05) higher Hb, PCV, and RBC compared to those who attended Healing Cross Hospital while the MCV of infants who attended Anelechi hospital was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those who attended both FMC and Healing Cross Hospitals. The evaluation of blood samples for parasitemia revealed 10% and 22% prevalence for both FMC and Anelechi Hospitals, respectively. Overall prevalence of anaemia observed among all pregnant women and infants was 14% and 18%, respectively. Severe anaemia was not observed in any of the participants. The study established that prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and infants in the studied area was not high. Therefore, continuous education of women of reproductive age on early antenatal booking and compliance with the use of prescribed medications (iron supplements, folate and antimalarials) should also be emphasized to reduce to the barest minimum, the problem of anaemia in pregnancy.