Maternal sociodemographic parameters: Impact on trace element status and pregnancy outcomes in Nigerian women

To determine the impact of socioeconomic status on plasma trace element status and pregnancy outcomes,349 pregnant women,aged 15-40 years (mean 27.04 ±2.75 years),recruited at ≤25 weeks (mean 21.76±3.12 weeks) gestational age,were followed up till delivery during which maternal and foetal outcomes were recorded. plasma copper,iron,and zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer while maternal sociodemographic data were obtained using a questionnaire. except for copper,lower plasma iron and zinc were significantly (p<0.05) higher in women from socioeconomically-disadvantaged groups. both adverse maternal health and foetal outcomes also seemed to be more prevalent in socioeconomically-disadvantaged women,although without a definite trend. this study has shown that,in economically-disadvantaged setting of developing countries,maternal socioeconomic status impacts on maternal trace element (copper,iron,and zinc) status and health and foetal outcomes. © international centre for diarrhoeal disease research,bangladesh.