Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity and Malaria Parasite Density of Pregnant Women with Asymptomatic Malaria Parasite Infection Attending Ante-Natal Clinic at A Tertiary Hospital in Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective

Asymptomatic malaria refers to malarial parasitemia of any density, in the absence of fever or other acute symptoms, in individuals who have not received recent antimalarial treatment. This study was aimed at providing information on the serum iron, total iron binding capacity and malaria parasite density of pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria parasite infection attending ante-natal clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study, involving fifty (50) pregnant women positive for malaria parasites, without any malaria-related symptoms and attending antenatal clinic at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and 50 non-pregnant uninfected women. Blood samples were  collected from the participants and analyzed. Malaria was diagnosed using Microscopy method, haematocrit was determined using the automated haematology analyzer, while serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined using a modification of the automated AAII-25 colorimetric method.

Results

Results obtained showed the mean haematocrit and serum iron was significantly lower (p<0.05) in pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria than in non-pregnant uninfected women, while TIBC  was significantly higher in pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria in comparison with non-pregnant uninfected women. A strong negative correlation was observed  between the mean parasite densities of infected  pregnant women, their haematocrit and  serum iron while  a positive correlation was observed between  TIBC  and malaria parasite density in the infected  pregnant women.

Conclusion

This study has shown a significantly lower value of haematocrit and serum iron among pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria. The study also shows that malaria parasite density of pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria is significantly high, therefore the burden of asymptomatic malaria and iron reduction in pregnancy is still a major health issue among pregnant women in developing malaria—endemic countries. The study therefore recommends that healthcare interventions for pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions should include regular monitoring of iron status.