Anthelminthic treatment and haemoglobin concentrations during pregnancy

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, the mean benefit of anthelmintic treatment, relative to the control, on the change in haemoglobin concentration between baseline and the third trimester was 6.6 g/L Hb (p=0.0034). The corresponding value for iron-folate supplements was 13.7 g/L Hb (p<0.0001). These findings indicate that anthelminthic treatment should be included in strategies to control maternal anaemia in Sierra Leone.