Serum Calcium Levels among Pregnant Women Attending Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

Abstract

Pregnancy is a period characterized by heightened calcium demand which is necessary for the optimum growth and development of the fetus and placenta. The physiological changes that occur in pregnancy may as well affect calcium level amongst other biochemical parameters among these subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate calcium levels in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State Nigeria. A total of 90 subjects were randomly selected for the study, they were between 15 to 45 years. Of the 90 subjects, 30 were non-pregnant women who served as control while 60 of these subjects were pregnant women and they were the test group. The subjects were selected using a simple random technique. Blood (5mls) was collected using venipuncture technique and the sample was assayed for calcium using o-cresolphthalein complexone method. The result revealed that there was no significant difference in calcium level between pregnant and non-pregnant women, p-value>0.05. Also, demographic characteristics had no effect on calcium level among pregnant women, p-value>0.05. In addition, trimester had no significant impact on calcium level among pregnant women, p-value>0.05. This study has shown that pregnancy does not have any impact on serum calcium level among pregnant women at any stage in pregnancy and their demographic identification is no factor to consider in monitoring their calcium level.