A cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2010 at the antenatal care clinic of the Araba Waeshreen Hospital (Geizera), central Sudan. Sociodemographic, medical, obstetric and use of pica information were gathered. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Haemoglobin levels were measured and blood films and stools were examined for malaria and schistosomiasis. Out of the 292 women, 119 (40.8%) had anaemia (HB < 11 g/dl); eight (2.7%) had severe anaemia (HB < 7 g/dl). One patient had a positive blood film for malaria. A total of 38 (13.0%) out of the 292 pregnant women had S. mansoni infections. While age, parity, gestational age, education, occupation, interpregnancy interval and BMI were not associated with anaemia, pica (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0-2.9, p = 0.02) and S. mansoni infections (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.2-6.7, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with anaemia using univariate and multivariate analyses. The high prevalence of anaemia among these women needs to be controlled through preventive measurement of S. mansoni infections and health education to prevent practising pica.

During pregnancy, plasma expansion and haemodilution contribute to the majority of these changes, there is increase in plasma volume as well as in red cells and ABSTRACT Background: During pregnancy the women undergo several structural and physiological changes almost in all body systems including the hematological profile. The main reported hematological change is the plasma expansion and haemodilution which affect the red blood cells(RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) count in addition to other hematological indices including packed cell volume (PCV). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of pregnancy on packed cell volume and white blood cells among Sudanese pregnant women and derive a formula for the normal values in pregnant women in relation to the packed cell volume. Methods: An analytical case control study was conducted in Khartoum state, Sudan 2017. The study included20 Sudanese pregnant women in the second and third trimesters attending the antenatal care at The National Ribat university hospital and 20 Sudanese non-pregnant women in the same age group as control. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data.5ml of venous blood was collected in a container containing EDTA. Complete blood count (CBC) was measured by using automated cell counter Sysmex. Results: There was statistically significant decrease in PCV value during 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant control group with p values (0.00 and 0.04 respectively), and statistically significant increase in WBCs count during 2 nd and 3 rd trimesters of pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant control group with p values (0.04 and 0.00 respectively). Also, a progressive increase in WBCs count with gestational age was demonstrated (second trimester 6.65×103/uL, third trimester 7.43×103/uL). The results showed mean WBCs of 7.79×103/uL, when compared to the estimated values the results showed no significant difference with the mean WBCs in 2ndand 3rdtrimesters (p value 0.06 and 0.39 respectively). Conclusions: During pregnancy there was statistically significant decrease in PCV values, statistically significant increase in WBCs count and by considering the haemodilution factor there was a higher increase in WBCs count.

The study discussed the physiological changes of pregnancy in Sudanese pregnant women the study aimed to assess the effect of pregnancy in Red blood cell, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and hemoglobin among Sudanese pregnant women, and to correlate the PCV as an indicator of hemodilution in different trimesters among Sudanese women using or not using iron and folic acid supplement. The researcher used across sectional study which applied on 300 pregnant women presented to Port-Sudan obstetrical Hospital for antenatal care from 2019 to 2020. The samples were collected with Chemically clean and sterile disposable needles, syringes and swab were used for all blood samples, 4.5 mL of blood was collected from each participant into a tube containing the anticoagulant Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA), gently mixed the tube five to six times A full blood count was performed using Hematological analyzer (Sysmex XP 300). The study found out that 90 women in each trimester of pregnancy (first, second and third) the mean value of Hemoglobin (Hb) in pregnant women was 11.3±1.4 g/dl, 11.4 ±1.4 g/dl and 10.3±1.2 g/dl in 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester respectively. The study also found out that the mean value of PCV was 33.35%. Moreover, Hb was lower during 3rd trimester compared with 1st (hemodilution). The cut off level for anemia in Sudanese non pregnant females could be even lower than 11g/dl as the normal level was found to be lower than the international one. Due to hemodilution anemia in pregnancy is considered if Hb less than 9g/dl. The study recommends that diagnosis of anemia should be revised during pregnancy as this study has shown Hb level less than 9g/dl (66%) can be the cut off level.