Gastrointestinal Helminth Infection in Pregnancy: Disease Incidence and Hematological Alterations

BACKGROUND: The incidence and hematological effects of helminth infection during pregnancy were investigated among pregnant women in Isiala, Mbano, Southeast Nigeria. METHODS: Totally 282 pregnant women were enlisted for the study between October 2011 and September 2012. Stool samples were examined for intestinal helminths using formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Hemoglobin (Hb) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) levels were evaluated in venous blood samples using Sahli’s and microhaematocrit methods respectively. RESULTS: Forty six (16.3%) subjects were infected with at least one helminth parasite; 24 (8.5%) hookworm, 14(5.0%) and 2(0.7%) A. lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections respectively. Intestinal helminthiases in pregnant women was significantly associated with age (P<0.05). The prevalence of intestinal helminthiases by parity was also significantly different (P<0.05) with primigravidae having the highest infection rate (27.5%). Hematological assessment showed that the prevalence of anemia among the women was 58.9% (mean±SD = 9.3±1.0). The differences in hemoglobin levels by age groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). The contributory effect of gastrointestinal helminths in anemia showed that infected pregnant women had lower mean hemoglobin (8.60±0.22g/dl) than the uninfected (9.72±0.07g/dl). Significant difference (t-value = 5.660, P<0.05) was observed between the Hb of the infected and uninfected pregnant women. In addition, infected pregnant women had mean PCV of 26.09±0.65% while the uninfected had 34.54±2.96%. The mean PCV of infected pregnant women was significantly different (t-value= 0.013, P<0.05) from that of the uninfected. CONCLUSION: Anti-helminthic therapy after the first trimester should be part of the antenatal programme. Intestinal helminth infection showed significant negative correlation with Hb and PCV and contributed moderately to anemia.