title: Anthelminthic treatment and haemoglobin concentrations during pregnancy.
abstract: A longitudinal study was conducted in Sierra Leone to measure the impact of a single dose anthelminthic (400 mg albendazole) and daily iron-folate supplements (36 g iron and 5 mg folate) on haemoglobin (HG) concentration during pregnancy. After controlling for baseline Hb concentration and season, anthelmintic treatment reduced the decline in haemoglobin concentration between the first and third trimesters by 6.6 g/L (p=0.0034) relative to the control. The corresponding value for iron-folate supplements was 13.7 g/L(p<0.0001) [corrected]. These findings indicate that anthelminthic treatment should be included in strategies to control maternal anaemia in Sierra Leone.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torlesse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000740:Anemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000517:prevention & control; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012807:Sierra Leone; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D015766:Albendazole