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 sup plements (36 g iron and 5 mg folate) on haemoglobin (HG) concentration duri ng pregnancy. After controlling for baseline Hb concentration and season, t he mean benefit of anthelmintic treatment, relative to the control, on the change in haemoglobin concentration between baseline and the third trimeste r was 6.6 g/L Hb (p=0.0034). The corresponding value for iron-folate supple ments was 13.7 g/L Hb (p<0.0001). These findings indicate that anthelminthi c treatment should be included in strategies to control maternal anaemia in Sierra Leone.