Asian Research Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Background: Anemia in pregnancy is common especially in developing countries and iron supplementation is routinely given to pregnant women to mitigate the impacts of anemia in pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed at determining the side effect profiles of twice weekly and daily iron supplementation in a group of healthy pregnant women in our clinic setting.

Patients and Methods: This was a longitudinal prospective study involving 120 pregnant women who received either daily or twice weekly iron supplementation. Their blood samples were assessed by determining hemoglobin concentration by an auto analyzer (Mindray) and a structured questionnaire was used at each follow up visit to assess the side effects they experienced from the booking visit at 16-24 weeks of gestation and follow up visits at 4, 8 and 14 weeks. All data was analyzed using EPI info computer software version 3.5.2 and level of significance was set at P<0.05.

Results: Over three-quarter (77.1%) of  women in the twice weekly supplementation group had hemoglobin concentration greater than 10g/dl at the 14th week follow up visit, while that of the daily arm supplementation was 48.6% and was  P=0.031. The gastrointestinal side effects were more exaggerated and of clinical importance 35% experienced heart burns in the daily arm as against 20.9%  in the twice weekly arm (P=0.06).

Conclusion: The side effects of routine hematinic are commoner among daily supplementation group and heartburn is the commonest side effects among the pregnant women therefore for non-anemic pregnant women who cannot tolerate the daily iron regimens, twice weekly dosing may suffice.