Iron Deficiency Anaemia Management and Biochemical Response to Oral Supplementation in Antenatal Women in Anambra State

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnant women in Nigeria, and the biochemical response to oral iron supplementation in antenatal settings requires critical evaluation. This study assesses the biochemical response to oral ferrous sulphate supplementation in anaemic pregnant women attending antenatal care in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. A longitudinal pre-post design was employed, recruiting 120 anaemic pregnant women defined by haemoglobin below 11 g/dL at their first antenatal visit. Haemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were measured at enrolment and after 8 weeks of supplementation. Adherence to supplementation was assessed by self-report and pill count. The study examines whether biochemical recovery mirrors haematological recovery and whether malaria infection, concurrent folate deficiency, or hookworm infestation attenuate the response to iron supplementation. Findings are expected to demonstrate heterogeneity in supplementation response and to identify patient-level predictors of poor biochemical recovery. Recommendations for enhanced biochemical monitoring in antenatal iron supplementation programmes in South East Nigeria are proposed. Keywords: iron deficiency anaemia, antenatal supplementation, ferritin, haemoglobin, Anambra State.