Serum ferritin levels and haemogram profiles in primigravida women attending antenatal clinics at Central Hospital, Benin City

Abstract

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide, with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) during pregnancy posing significant health risks. The National Academy of Sciences defines IDA in pregnancy as a ferritin level <12 µg/L, while the World Health Organization defines anaemia as haemoglobin (Hb) <11 g/dL. Serum ferritin levels typically increase in the first trimester but decrease significantly in the second and third trimesters, whereas haemogram parameters remain relatively stable due to increased plasma volume. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of IDA among primigravida women attending antenatal clinics at Central Hospital, Benin City. Ninety primigravida women aged 20-45 years were recruited, and their haemograms and serum ferritin levels were assessed using an autoanalyzer and ELISA, respectively. The majority (55.6%) were aged 25-29 years, while the 35-39 age group had the lowest representation. Serum ferritin levels were significantly lower (p=0.001), whereas RBC, Hb, haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that, despite significant reductions in ferritin, RBC indices remain unaffected, likely due to physiological adaptations during pregnancy.