Serum Iron and Ferritin Status in Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Centres in Adamawa State

Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is a major contributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity in northeastern Nigeria, and its biochemical characterization in the specific context of Adamawa State is necessary for optimizing antenatal supplementation programmes. This study assesses serum iron and ferritin status in pregnant women attending primary health care centres in Yola South LGA, Adamawa State. One hundred and fifty pregnant women in their second and third trimesters were recruited consecutively during scheduled antenatal visits. Full blood count and peripheral blood film were used to classify anaemia status. Serum iron was determined by the ferrozine colorimetric method, total iron-binding capacity by the unsaturated iron-binding capacity plus serum iron method, and serum ferritin by sandwich ELISA. Transferrin saturation was calculated. Results show that 64 percent of pregnant women were anaemic based on WHO criteria for pregnancy, with haemoglobin below 11 grams per decilitre. Iron deficiency, defined as serum ferritin below 15 micrograms per litre, was present in 71 percent of the total study population. Combined iron deficiency anaemia was confirmed in 58 percent. Serum iron was significantly lower and total iron-binding capacity significantly higher in iron-deficient women compared to iron-sufficient women. Transferrin saturation below 16 percent was present in 67 percent of anaemic women. Third trimester women showed the most severe depletion. Iron supplementation compliance was reported by only 38 percent of women. The study recommends strengthening iron supplementation compliance monitoring and dietary iron counselling in Adamawa State antenatal services. Keywords: serum iron, ferritin, iron deficiency anaemia, pregnancy, Adamawa State.