Evaluation of Hemoglobin and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) at Different Trimesters of Pregnancy Among Women in Elele, Rivers State
Agbai E.O1., Nwanegwo C.O1., Ofoego U.C2., Nwodo F.N2. and Nwokoroku U1
1Department of Human Physiology
2Department of Human Anatomy
1&2Madonna University Elele, Rivers State.
E-mail: vivy4okey@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) in 150 pregnant women booked out-patients for routine antenatal care at Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) Elele, Rivers State and healthy non-pregnant women in Enugu town, Enugu State were used in this study. 2 ml of venous blood each was drawn from 150 pregnant women and 50 non-pregnant women (age; 20-45 years). 50 pregnant women (first trimester, 0-12 weeks), 50 pregnant women (second trimester, 13-26 weeks) and 50 pregnant women (third trimester, 27-41 weeks); blood samples were taken from the antecubital fossa vein by venopuncture in the morning and collected in EDTA bottle. The hematological values were determined within standard 2 hours of collecting the sample. The PCV was estimated using the microhaematocrit method and hemoglobin was estimated using the Sahlis method. Data showed that PCV was statistically significant difference at P < 0.05 between non-pregnant (36.17 ± 0.34) compared to first trimesters (30.46 ± 0.12), second trimesters (28.18 ± 0.23) and third trimesters (31.34 ± 0.24). There was no statistically significant difference at P > 0.05 between first trimesters (30.46 ± 0.12) compared with third trimesters (31.34 ± 0.24). The result on Hb showed statistically significant difference at P < 0.05 between non-pregnant control group (12.82 ± 0.19) compared to first trimesters (11.35 ± 0.12), second trimesters (9.46 ± 0.12) and third trimesters (11.72 ± 0.14). There was also no statistically significant difference at P > 0.05 between first trimesters (11.35 ± 0.12) compared with third trimesters (11.72 ± 0.14). Results showed a decrease in PCV during first trimester and a decrease in Hb during the second trimester suggesting that women at these groups are at risk of poor pregnancy outcome.