Preconception prevalence of iron, Vitamin B 12 and Folate deficiencies among women of reproductive age in a Nigerian population

Abstract

Background: Maternal healthcare is an index of national healthcare coverage. Gestational anaemia is reportedly prevalent in Nigeria mainly due to nutritional deficiency and malaria infection. Considerable effort has been directed towards addressing these challenges among pregnant women. However, preconception care is yet to be routinely practised in our locality. It is possible that lack of preconception care, especially with regards to assessment of nutritional status, could be contributing to a gestational health crisis, thus necessitating due investigation.

Methods: This study enrolled 360 women of reproductive age at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria between November 2021 and April 2022. Simple random sampling was used to recruit consenting subjects to be part of the survey where structured questionnaires were administered. Guided by their responses, subjects who were neither on supplements at the time of the study nor in the practice of taking supplements prior to pregnancy were purposively enrolled. Blood samples were collected from each participant for assays of iron, Vitamin B12 and folate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and measurement of haemoglobin concentration by automation. Data analysis to derive frequencies and Student’s t-test comparison of means was carried out using SPSS 22.0.

Results:  Folate deficiency was the least at 8.9%, followed by Vitamin B12 deficiency at 14.2% and Iron deficiency at 42.5%. Anaemia was observed to be 31.1% within the studied population. Iron deficiency alone dominated in the observed distribution pattern of the assessed deficiencies Co-deficiency of all three measured parameters stood at 4.4%.

Conclusion: Deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12 and folate are prevalent at the preconception stage in the study area. So, also, is anaemia even though the severity may be considered mild. Women in the study area are at risk of pre-existing anaemia and nutritional deficiency prior to pregnancy. Routine preconception care including assessment of nutritional status is therefore recommended in the study locality.