IMPACT OF AGE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCYIN IKWUANO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ABIA STATE, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Determination of iron, calcium, total protein, and albumin concentration was carried out among pregnant women visiting ante natal clinic in selected community health centres in Ikwuano L.G.A. Ninety one (91) subjects comprising seventy (70) pregnant women and twenty one (21) non-pregnant women, which constitute the test and control groups and whose ages fell within 19-39 years were enlisted for the study. The test subjects were further sub-grouped on the basis of age differences and socio economic status. The following results were obtained for test and control respectively for: (93.39±21.79) (97.14±37.64) iron, (9.24±1.06) (9.80±0.30) calcium, (4.35±0.79) (3.77±1.28) albumin, and (7.06±0.78) (7.60±0.63) total protein. A significant (P =.05) decrease in the serum concentration of the above parameters were observed when compared with the control group except for albumin which showed a significant (P =.05) increase in the serum concentration of the test group compared to the control. This result reflects the physiological changes leading to decrease in biochemical parameters during pregnancy. Equally the result of the age bracket grouping showed a significant (P =.05) increase in albumin and calcium levelsanda significant (P =.05) decrease in iron and total protein levels of the age bracket 17-29 years compared to the age group 30 years and above. The result also showed a significant (P =.05) decrease in serum albumin and total protein of salary earners compared to housewives. Iron level showed a significant (P =.05) increase in salary earners compared to housewives whereas there wasno significant difference in calcium ion concentration. This study has provided information on the impact of age and socio-economic status on pregnancy in the studied locality.