Evaluation of Zinc Status and Socio-Economic Profile of Pregnant Women in Osogbo Metropolis, South-Western Nigeria

Purpose: Zinc status during gestation affects both maternal and fetal health. The study was designed to investigate maternal zinc status and relate it with dietary zinc and socioeconomic levels in first, second and third trimester pregnant women.

Methods/Patients: Forty-five [15 for each trimester] pregnant women and thirty non-pregnant women that served as control were recruited for the study. Serum zinc concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. From structured questionnaire, information was obtained on age, dietary zinc content, and socioeconomic status [education, occupation]. Zinc status was summarized as mean ± standard deviation. Data were analyzed using Student t- test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Only first but not second and third trimester pregnant women featured significantly lower zinc levels compared with control. Non-significant difference in zinc levels were observed when the three trimesters were compared. Of the women in first trimester which featured significantly lower serum zinc level compared with control, all were of high educational status although only < 50% were of high occupational status yet over 70% belong to high dietary zinc sub-group.

Conclusion: Data obtained from the study revealed that depleted serum zinc level was observed in the first trimester and educational status rather than socioeconomic status played a role in choice of zinc- rich containing food.