Abstract:
Helminthiasis is one of the most common and widespread parasitic infections of humans, contributing to
poor nutritional status, anemia, and low birth weight (LBW) in pregnancy. We investigated the possible
association between helminthiasis and anemia in pregnancy and their combined effect on day zero birth
weights (DZBW). A total of 83 pregnant women of ages 16 to 45 years in their last trimester (30 to 42
week gestation) were purposively and voluntarily recruited from two hospitals in the central region of
Ghana for the study. Venous blood and stool samples from the participants were analyzed for Hb, malaria
parasite and infective stages of helminths (ova, larvae) respectively. Participants were monitored up to
delivery and the DZBW measured. Out of the 83 pregnant women, 17 (20.5%) had helminthiasis with
ascariasis being the most common (10.8%). Anemia (Hb < 11g/dL) was identified in 47% of the
participants and 22.9% gave birth to babies with LBWs. Prevalence of helminthiasis correlated with
increased risk of developing anemia with those having trichuriasis showing the highest incidence of
anemia (80%) than those who had ascariasis or strongyloidiasis. Helminthiasis in pregnancy may lead to a
high risk of anemia, however, it may not increase the risk of LBW and that geohelminthiasis in pregnancy
could be independent of geophagy.
