Association between Blastocystosis and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women in La Lisa Municipality, Havana, Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies found an association between blastocystosis and iron deficiency anemia. One of them showed that the infection with Blastocystis spp is a risk factor for in pregnant women to suffer. This infection can have adverse consequences for both the mother and the fetus. In extreme cases it can lead to maternal and fetal mortality.
Objective: To know the prevalence of blastocystosis in pregnant women and its possible association with iron deficiency anemia.
Methods: A parasitological, clinical and epidemiological study, descriptive and cross-sectional was conducted on the universe of pregnant women treated in three clinics in La Lisa municipality from July 2017 to June 2018.
Results: We found 43 (31.9%) pregnant women infected by parasitic protozoa out of 135 who were studied. Blastocystis spp, was the most prevalent (28.9%). 41 pregnant women suffered from anemia. In most of them (85.4%), anemia classified as iron deficiency. The proportion of pregnant women parasitized by Blastocystis spp who suffered from this type of anemia was significantly higher (p <0.05) in relation to pregnant women who were not infected by that protozoan and also suffered from that type of anemia.
Conclusions: Blastocystosis is a parasitosis of increasing prevalence which is insufficiently known. Initiatives to improve knowledge, perceptions and practices are peremptory to their diagnosis, treatment and control at the general and academic levels. The communication strategies that are implemented should inform about possible clinical consequences of this infection in pregnant woman.