Pattern of Haematological Indices Among Pregnant Women at Booking in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano

Abstract

Background: Haematological changes are some of the physiological events that occur in pregnancy. A proportion of women die each year as a result of pregnancy complications related to hematological profile alterations. This study observed the haemoglobin level, white blood cell and platelets counts of pregnant women and their association with sociodemographic factors.
Objectives: To determine the pattern of haematological indices of pregnant women at booking in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and to determine the sociodemographic characteristics that affect haematological indices among the women.
Methodology: The study was a cross sectional study of 256 pregnant women who booked for antenatal care at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano. The sociodemographic information of the women was obtained using an interviewer administered questionnaire. About 3mls of venous blood was collected from each of the clients and put into an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) bottle; a full blood count analysis was then run on the samples.
Results: The mean values for the different indices were: WBC 5.31 ± 2.68 x109/L, Haemoglobin level was 10.59 ± 1.13 g/dl and Platelet count was 208.4 ± 6.07 x109/ L. Majority of the clients were anaemic (68.35%), thrombocytopenia was found in 27.3%, and 40.63% had leucocytopenia. Statistical test of association using one –way ANOVA found no association between haemoglobin level and gestational age and no association between haemoglobin level and parity. However there were associations between haemoglobin level and age of the clients, and haemoglobin level and educational status.
Conclusion: Significant proportion of women in this study were anaemic at booking and had no formal education; this demonstrates the need for awareness of the general public for the girl child education and women empowerment.