s There an Association Between Helminthiasis and Anemia in Pregnancy?: A Test Case of Pregnant Women Attending Two Hospitals in Cape Coast

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.