World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CALCIUM LEVELS AMONGST VARYING AGE INTERVALS AND TRIMESTERS OF PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Ben-chioma, Adline Erinma; Elekima, Ibioku and Nwachuku, Edna Ogechi

ABSTRACT

The effect of calcium mineralization in pregnant women in Port Harcourt attending antenatal clinic was investigated. A total of 102subjects between the ages of 18 and 40 years were recruited. Of the 102 subjects, 38 were non pregnant and were used as control while 64 of these subjects werepregnant women between the ages of18 – 40 years. of the 64 pregnant subjects, 23 were in their first trimester, 21 in their second trimester and 20 in their third trimester. Furthermore, age intervals 18 – 24; 25 – 32 and 33 – 40 years of the pregnant and non-pregnant subjects were determined of which control subjects had 19, 11 and 8; first trimester subjects had 8, 9 and 6; second trimester subjects had 7, 8 and 6 while third trimester subjects had 6, 8 and 6 subjects between the ages of 18 -24; 25 -32 and 33 – 40 years respectively. Serum calcium was analysed using the 0-cresolphatm complex method. Results obtained for control and pregnant women irrespective of their age intervals showed significant decrease in serum calcium level in the second and third trimester. When age interval of 18 – 24 years was considered, significant increase and decrease was observed in first trimester and third trimester respectively. When the age interval of 25 – 32 years were considered, significant decreases were seen in second and third trimesters while significant decreases in serum calcium levels were seen in first, second and third trimesters. Conclusively, the increase seen in 18-24 years first trimester could be as a result of initial judicious adherence to routine antenatal drugs including calcium. However, the significant decreases seen in the various trimesters and age intervals could be as a result of lack of balanced diet, poor adherence to antenatal drugs after initial adherence and increasing physiological demands of the growing foetus. Thus, educating and re-educating pregnant women could reduce complications during pregnancy as a result of calcium deficiency.

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