Objective: Menstrual disorders are common in young women, and heavy menstrual blood losses (MBL) are an important cause of anaemia. Menstrual morbidity normally goes untreated in developing countries where cultural barriers also serve to mask the problems. We investigated the prevalence of menstrual morbidity, and measured MBL and its relationship to iron deficiency in a rural adolescent population. The rationale was to assess whether or not reducing heavy MBL could be part of a strategy to reduce iron deficiency anaemia. Setting: Rural village in south-east Nigeria. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Subjects:The study included all non-pregnant, unmarried nulliparous girls (< 20 years) who had menstruated, and who lived in K'Dere village. Methods: A field worker allocated to each girl completed a questionnaire, and supervised recovery and collection of soiled pads and ensured blood sampling. MBL was measured using the standard alkaline haematin method. Haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, transferrin saturation and protoporphyrin levels (ZPP) were also measured. Results 307 girls completed MBL measurements; 11.9?! refused to participate. 12.1% had menorrhagia (> 80ml); median MBL was 33.1 ml. Menorrhagia was more frequent in girls who had menstruated for > 2 years ( P = 0.0481, and had longer duration of menses ( P < 0.001). Iron status as measured by haematocrit, serum iron, transferrin saturation and ZPP values was inversely related to MBL. Neither height nor body mass index for age was associated with current iron status. Conclusions: The level of menorrhagia detected (12%) may be an 'expected' level for a condition which often has no underlying pathology. Heavy MBL is one of the most important factors contributing to iron deficiency anaemia. Measures are needed to alleviate menstrual disorders, and improve iron status. Oral contraceptives can be part of a strategy to reduce anaemia, particularly for adolescents at high risk of unwanted pregnancies.
Background:Alloantibodies of clinical importance can cause transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The frequencies of these antibodies have not been reported in our locality.Aims:To determine the frequency of occurrence of alloantibodies among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Settings and Design:This is a prospective study, which was carried out in the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Materials and Methods:Screening and identification of red blood cell alloantibodies was done on the sera of 500 pregnant women using the DiaMed, DiaCell, and DiaPanel reagents (Cressier, Switzerland). ABO and Rh blood groups were done using antisera bought from Biotec (Ipswich, UK).Results:Alloantibodies were identified in the serum of 17 of the 500 (3.4%) pregnant women. The specificity of the antibodies was as follows: anti-C 6 (1.2%), anti-E 3 (0.6%), anti-Jsb 3 (0.6%), and anti-K 5 (1.0%). No anti-D was identified despite 8.6% of the study population being Rhesus D (Rh D) negative. The distribution of the antibodies was found to be independent of the blood groups of the participants (χ2 = 4.050, P = 0.670). Blood group O constituted the highest percentage (48.0%).Conclusion:This study has identified the presence of non-Rh D antibodies to the proportion of 3.4%. Rh D antibody was absent in this population irrespective of the relatively high percentage of Rh D negative women. There is a need to determine the actual risk these antibodies may pose to the antenatal women and to include antibody screening and identification in routine antenatal care.
Anti-HCV pre-transfusion testing among blood donors has not been introduced as a mandatory test in Rivers State, hence the risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV cannot be fully ascertained. One thousand (1000) apparently healthy blood donors were screened using a rapid second - generation test, the HEP C SPOT HCV assay. An overall prevalence of 2.9% was observed in this study. The highest prevalence (8.1%) was found among adults aged between 26 and 33 years and commercial donors.
Background: Hemoglobin genotypes and blood groups have been known to be associated with diseases, but the relationship with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Nigerian infants is not well known. Objective: This study aims to determine the association between hemoglobin genotypes and blood groups with HIV infection among HIV-exposed Nigerian infants. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 312 HIV-exposed infants (aged 8-16 months) in Sokoto State, Nigeria. HIV screening was performed using the HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction technique on dried blood spots. Hemoglobin electrophoresis and ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood groups were carried out using standard techniques. Results: This study found 20.5% HIV-1 seropositivity among the infants, with 20.9% of males and 20.1% of females positive for HIV-1. Babies' sex and HIV seropositivity was not significant (χ 2 =0.27, df=1, P=0.869). The blood group distribution was O (43.3%), A (36.8%), B (15.7%), AB (4.2%), RhD + (95.6%), and RhD − (4.4%). The combined ABO and Rh blood groups among the study population were O + (40.1%), A + (36.2%), B + (15.1%), AB + (4.2%), O − (3.2%), A − (0.6%), and B − (0.6%). No AB − baby was found. The association between blood groups and HIV seropositivity was not significant (Fisher's exact test =9.140; P=0.169); however, group AB + showed the highest probable association with HIV seropositivity (46.2%), followed by A + (23.9%). The prevalence of hemoglobin genotypes was AA (71.5%), AS (25.3%), AC (2.2%), and SC (1.0%). Hemoglobin SS and other hemoglobin variants were not found. A significant association (χ 2 =8.432, df=3, P=0.034) was observed between SC and HIV-1 infection, but not with ABO and Rh blood groups. Conclusion: Hemoglobin variant SC showed a significant association with HIV-1 infection, but not with ABO and Rh blood groups. Further studies are recommended to confirm this finding.
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