Pattern of Haematological Indices Among Pregnant Women at Booking in a Specialist Hospital in South-South Nigeria

Pattern of Haematological Indices Among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a physiological process that induces profound changes in haematological indices of women. Variations across trimesters have been observed. This study aimed to assess the effect of pregnancy on the haematological indices of pregnant women in a specialist hospital.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinic of Central Hospital, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria. A total of 322 participants (242 pregnant and 80 non-pregnant) who consented participated. Blood samples were collected from them and analysed. The haematological indices were compared between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups, as well as among the three trimesters.

Results: The haematocrit (31.89±3.48 vs 35.02±3.59, P=0.001), lymphocytes (30.65±7.06 vs 47.37±9.00, P=0.001) and Mix (Basophil, Eosinophils, and Monocyte) (7.32±2.85 vs 8.56±2.27, P=0.001) were significantly lower in the pregnant group. Total white blood cell count (7.16±1.81 vs 5.94±1.51, P=0.001) and Neutrophils (62.25±8.59 vs 43.60±9.81, P=0.001) increased significantly in the pregnant cohort. Comparing across the three trimesters, there was a decrease in Haematocrit as pregnancy advanced, although it was not statistically significant. There was a significant reduction in haemoglobin (11.10 ± 1.00 vs 10.53±1.12, P=0.013) and lymphocyte (33.64±8.70 vs 30.31±6.90, P=0.017) levels between the first and second trimesters, as well as between the first and third trimesters (11.10±1.00 vs 10.41±1.12, P=0.02 and 33.64±8.70 vs 29.84±6.15, P=0.008). Neutrophil levels increased significantly between the first and second trimesters (58.63±9.12 vs 63.15±8.87, P=0.008), as well as between the first and third trimesters (58.63±9.12 vs 62.24±7.46, P=0.02). The prevalence of anaemia was 22.7%.

Conclusion: Pregnancy-related haematological changes can be mistaken for pathological conditions. Healthcare providers should be aware of and identify normal physiological changes to provide accurate assessments and effective management.