Maternal Calcium Status and its Implications on the Newborn at Birth in Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Calcium is the most prevalent metal in the body, and is needed for practically every biological function in humans. It supports healthy neuromuscular activity, endocrine function, energy and cell production, electrolyte acid-base buffering, mineralization of bones and teeth, coagulation, and membrane integrity. Pregnancy and lactation are times of high calcium requirement. This study employed a cross-sectional research design where two (2) research questions and two (2) hypotheses guided the study. Data was collected from the blood samples of 185 mother-baby pairs who were selected by a multi-stage sampling technique. Calcium concentration in blood was elicited using the direct ion selective electrode method. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for data processing, and results presented on tables using frequencies, percentages and mean. Inferential statistics were elicited using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r). Results of the concentration of calcium in maternal blood indicated that the maternal levels were depleted. Over two-thirds of the newly delivered women 117(63.2%) had Ca2+ level <0.50mmol/L. The other one third 65(35.2%) had calcium (Ca2+) level <2.05mmol/L, with only 3(1.6%) who had Ca2+ level ≥2.05mmol/L, where normal range for women is 2.05 - 2.60 mmol/L in the third trimester. In terms of Ca2+ concentration in cord blood, almost all - 183 (98.9%) samples revealed values within normal range (2.0 - 2.7 mmol/L), with only 2(1.1%) outstanding samples above normal range. Result on test of hypothesis showed that there was no statistically significant correlation between maternal age and maternal Ca2+ concentration, where r=0.061, p=0.406. Similarly, no significant relationship was found between maternal calcium level and neonatal head circumference, where r=0.103, p=0.165. Notwithstanding the predominantly low results of calcium (Ca2+) concentration in maternal blood samples, cord blood calcium (Ca2+) levels remained high in this study. Calcium levels in maternal blood in the postpartum period was not correlated to the maternal age, nor the head circumference of the newborn at birth. Further studies are required to identify the reason(s) for low calcium levels in the maternal blood. Longitudinal studies which would monitor maternal calcium levels during pregnancy and immediately after delivery are suggested.