Relationship Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67601/njbls.v3i2a.57Keywords:
Helicobacter pylori infection, iron deficiency anemia, pregnancy, seroprevalence, antenatal care, Kano NigeriaAbstract
Helicobacter pylori infection during pregnancy has been associated with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), hyperemesis gravidarum, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the high prevalence of H. pylori infection in Kano State, Nigeria, information on its relationship with anemia among pregnant women remains limited. This study investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its association with iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano. Socio-demographic, clinical, and obstetric data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes for packed cell volume (PCV) determination. H. pylori infection was detected using a rapid serological test kit for anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 42.0% (21/50), while the prevalence of anemia (PCV <30%) was 32.0% (16/50). An equal proportion of anemic respondents were H. pylori seropositive and seronegative (50.0% each). Among non-anemic women, 61.8% were H. pylori seronegative, whereas 38.2% were seropositive. No statistically significant association was observed between H. pylori infection and anemia (χ² = 0.67, p = 0.41). Similarly, socio-demographic characteristics, gestational age, interpregnancy interval, and iron supplement intake were not significantly associated with H. pylori infection (p > 0.05). Of the clinical symptoms evaluated, only headache and cold sensation showed significant associations with H. pylori infection (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated a relatively high seroprevalence of H. pylori infection among pregnant women in Kano. However, no significant association was found between H. pylori infection and anemia. The relatively low prevalence of anemia observed in the study population may be attributable to regular iron supplementation during pregnancy and adequate interpregnancy spacing. Larger studies employing more sensitive diagnostic methods and comprehensive iron status biomarkers are recommended to further elucidate the relationship between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy.
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