Assessment of as a Risk Factor for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health issue during pregnancy and may be influenced by parasitic infections such as . This study aims to assess the role of infection as a potential risk factor for IDA in pregnant women.

METHODS

A total of 208 pregnant women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, including 98 women with IDA (case group) and 110 women without IDA (control group), conducted at Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran during 2022-2023. Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured in all participants, with anemia defined as hemoglobin <11 g/dL and ferritin <15 μg/L. Stool samples were collected from all participants to detect and other parasitic infections using direct smear, formalin-ether concentration, and modified acid-fast staining methods. Statistical analyses were performed using independent samples t-test and chi-square test, with a significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of infection was significantly higher in the case group (38.8%) compared to the control group (10.9%) (0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the case group (0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of socioeconomic status, education, or occupation.

CONCLUSION

infection may contribute to iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. Screening for parasitic infections in anemic pregnant women, particularly , could improve anemia management during pregnancy.