Association of Anaemia with Parasitic Infection in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Koshi Zonal Hospital

Intestinal parasitic infections associated with anaemia during pregnancy have direct negative impact on the health of expected mother and developing baby. In order to assess the association between anaemia and parasitic infection during pregnancy, a total of 200 stool samples from pregnant women on their first consultation to antenatal service in Koshi Zonal Hospital were collected from April to August 2012. The stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites by direct smear technique, while haemoglobin level of pregnant women were collected from laboratory record of the hospital. Out of 110 anaemic pregnant women 40(36.3%) had parasitic infection, while from 90 non-anaemic pregnant women; only 18(20%) of them were infected with intestinal parasites. The association of anaemia with intestinal parasite was statistically significant (p<0.008). The prevalence of Hookworm (76.9%) was most prevalent infection followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (73.3%) in anaemic pregnant women. The mean Haemoglobin (Hb) level of pregnant women with single parasite and with multiple infection was 10.4 ± 1.80 gm/dl (mild anaemia) and 9.81 ± 0.84 gm/dl (moderate anaemia) respectively. However, the overall prevalence of the parasitic infection among pregnant women was 58(29%). A. lumbricoides (32.3%) was the most predominant followed by Hookworm (26.1%), Giardia lamblia (21.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (10.7%), Trichuris trichiura (6.15%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (1.5%). An integrated programme for the control of this parasitic infection should be regarded as an issue of public health priority in order to reduce the degree of anaemia during pregnancy.