Zinc, Parity, Infection, and Severe Anemia Among Pregnant Women in Kassla, Eastern Sudan

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate determinants (clinical, nutritional, and nonnutritional factors) of anemia among pregnant women in Kassala, eastern Sudan. Sociodemographic characteristics were gathered; serum ferritin, zinc, albumin, and C-reactive protein were measured using different laboratory methods in a cross-sectional study of 250 pregnant women. Of the 250 women, 58.4% had anemia (hemoglobin (HB) <11 g/dl), 6.8% had severe anemia (HB < 7 g/dl), 19.6% had iron deficiency (S-ferritin <15 µg/l), 14.8% had iron deficiency anemia (<11 g/dl and S-ferritin <15 µg/l), and 38% had zinc deficiency (<80 µg/ml). S-albumin, zinc, and ferritin were significantly lower in patients with severe anemia. While age, gestational age, ferritin, and C-reactive protein were not predictors for anemia, primigravidae (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1-6.7, P = 0.02), low S-albumin (OR = 5.9, 95% CI = 1.4-25.2, P = 0.01), and low S-zinc (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.0-6.6, P = 0.03) were the predictors for anemia. While there was no significant correlation between hemoglobin, S-zinc, and S-ferritin, there was a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and S-albumin (r = 0.308, P = 0.001) and significant inverse correlation between hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (r = 0.169, P = 0.007). Thus, the role of chronic inflammation and zinc as possible contributing factors to anemia in pregnancy has important implications for the clinical evaluation and treatment of these women.

Serum Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper Levels in Sudanese Women with Preeclampsia

“…This goes with our previous observation where we observed no correlations between zinc, copper and hemoglobin levels [26, 42]. …”

Prevalence of zinc deficiency and its association with dietary, serum albumin and intestinal parasitic infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Other possible explanation may be urban-rural difference, as the previous studies in India and Sidama targeted only rural areas. The result of the present study was relatively higher than reports from Eastern Sudan (38 %) [32], Central Sudan (45 %) [17], Malawi (36 %) [33], Vietnam 29 % [34], Bangladesh 14.7 % [35], and Iran 49 % [21]. The reason for this difference probably is due to nutritional regiment; cultural differences in food preparation and feeding habit.…”

“…About 73 (34.9 %) of the subjects had both deficiencies. A previous studies also found significant positive association between zinc deficiency and anemia [12,15,32,46]. As the studies are cross-sectional it is not viable to implicate causal inference.…”

Epidemiology of Pregnancy- Associated Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) in Three Referral Hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan

“…This may simply reflect the low oral contraceptives prevalence in this region of the world [16]. Anemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem and it is highly prevalent in Sudan [17]. Moreover Ali et., in recent study reported that women with severe anemia were at 3.6 times at higher risk of preeclampsia [18].…”