Haematological Profile of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Jos, Nigeria

Aims: To assess the haematological profile of pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in a tertiary hospital in Jos, Nigeria.

Study Design: A cross sectional study carried out among pregnant women accessing ante natal care.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Jos Nigeria. April 2017 and May 2017.

Methodology: 200 pregnant women accessing ante natal care were included. Data on clinical details were obtained with an Interviewer administered questionnaire. Full Blood Count of blood sample was analysed using the Mindray BC 5000 Autoanalyzer.

Results: Values obtained were (mean ± standard deviation): Packed cell volume, 0.38 ± 0.04L/L; haemoglobin concentration, 10.59 ± 0.98 g/dL; red blood cell count, 4.24 ± 0.49 x 1012/L; white blood cells count, 7.05 ± 1.96 × 109/L; Neutophil 64.5 ± 10.3%; Lymphocyte- 29.5 ± 8.4%; Monocyte- 3.0 ± 1.4%; Eosinophil- 2.2 ± 2.4%; Basophil- 0.53 ± 0.35%; platelets count, 264 ± 94 × 109/L; mean cell volume 91.06 ± 8.97 fL, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, 25.28 ± 2.67 pg; and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, 28.35 ± 2.97 g/dL; Red cell distribution width, 14.99 ± 8.98; Mean Platelet volume; 9.65 ± 1.06. Complete blood counts studied in the three trimesters of pregnancy showed a consistent increase in WBC count and Neutrophils as pregnancy progressed. There was also a consistent decline in RBC count, Hb conc, PCV, lymphocytes, and Platelet count from the first to the third trimester. MCH, MCV, MCHC values improved from first to second trimester but dropped in the third trimester. The differences were statistically significant for Hb conc, RBC count, PCV (P = 0.00001, 0.002, 0.002) respectively, but not significant for the other values.

Conclusion: Haematological parameters differ as pregnancy progresses, with low levels of haemoglobin and red cell mass differing significantly through different trimesters of pregnancy. Adequate supplementation to reverse negative indicators of poor well-being is recommended.