Background. There are differences in the distribution and frequency of ABO and D blood groups in different populations of the world. Relatively very little information is available about blood group distributions in the Somali population. Objectives: To identify the distribution and frequency of ABO and D blood groups among the Somali people. Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional study of 1811 enrolled students of Jazeera University was conducted in Jazeera University diagnosis and research center, Mogadishu-Somalia from December 2017 to December 2020. The result was presented as the frequency of each blood group with percentage. A Fisher’s exact test was carried out to test the significant association of the ABO blood group with sex and D antigen with sex. Results. Blood group O was the most prevalent (61%), followed by A (27%), B (10%), and AB (2%). The D-antigen was present in 97% of participants and 3% were D-negative. The distribution of O+, A+, B+, AB+ among D-positive subjects were 62%, 27%, 9% and 2.0% while that of O-, A-, B- and AB- among D-negative subjects were 57%, 27%, 12% and 3%, respectively. The frequencies of ABO and D-antigens in both male and female subjects were O > A > B > AB. However, this study found no significant difference of ABO with Sex and D-antigens with sex (P-value>0.05). Conclusions. The frequency of ABO and D blood groups among the Somalia population was found to be O > A > B > AB which was similar to those reported from most East African populations.

Background Anemia in pregnancy is a serious global public health problem in most developing countries and a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Somalia which already had very high maternal mortality ratio of 829 per 100,000 live births, pregnant women in internally displaced camps (IDPs) remain at most exposed. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, severity and associated risk factors of anemia among pregnant women in internally displaced camps in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 households in the most IDP settled districts in Mogadishu. Every pregnant mother in these sampled households who was voluntarily consented was targeted. A sample of blood was also taken by pricking the fingertip and inserted into hemoglobin meter. Those with Hb < 11 g/dl from hemoglobin meter had been taken another sample of 3 cc blood and put into EDTA tube for CBC analysis to identify the type of anemia. Data on risk factors were collected using structured pretested questionnaire via an interview. Collected data was coded and entered in SPSS- Version 22 for analysis. Descriptive analysis, bivariate chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were done. Results The overall prevalence of anemia among study participants was 44.4% (95%CI: 39.5-49.3%), where severe and moderate anemia were 11.8 and 47.0% respectively. In addition all anaemic cases were microcytic hypochromic anemia. Young maternal age, low Family income, fewer/zero parity, being at third or second trimesters, lack of ANC attendance during pregnancy, lack of iron supplementation during pregnancy, taking tea immediately after meal during pregnancy, lower/zero frequency of daily meat and vegetables consumption during pregnancy were associated risk factors of anemia. Conclusion The anemia prevalence from this study was severe public health problem. Several factors were found to be associated with anemia during pregnancy. Measures has to be taken to curb the problem by including them mass iron supplementation and health education towards identified risk factors.

Background: Immunization is amongst the most cost effective public health interventions for reducing global childhood morbidity and mortality. However globally 9 million deaths of children occur as a result of vaccine-preventable disease, a bigger proportion occurred in sub-Saharan Africa which was 4.4 million. Therefore, this study aimed to assess barriers for complete vaccination coverage among under five years children in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: A community based Cross-sectional study was conducted in between April to July, 2019 in Mogadishu-Somalia. Two-stage cluster sampling with systematic random sampling was used to select a sample of 820 households. Data was collected through structured, interviewer administrator questionnaire. In case more eligible children found at single selected household, one child was randomly selected and the information related to immunization was interviewed from his/her caregiver. Results: the overall, fully vaccinated under five years children was found to be 45.2%. Immunization was found to be increased by being a younger caregiver (β = -0.019, P-value=0.042), being married caregiver, being Father with Secondary & above education (AOR=1.755, 95% CI=1.161-2.655, P-value =0.008), being a young child (β = -0.018, P-value=0.011), being children from birth order of fifth & above (AOR=1.539, 95% CI=1.011-2.343, P-value=0.044), Married caregiver (AOR=0.244, 95% CI= 0.063-0.94, P-value=0.041), increased Household monthly family income= (β = 0.003, P-value=0.000), Availability of vaccine at the time of visit (AOR =6.147, 95% CI=1.943-19.441, P-value=0.002), Cost affordability of vaccine =( AOR =1.951, 95% CI=1.238-3.076, P-value=0.004), Being born at health facility (AOR =1.517, 95% CI=1.104-2.086, P-value=0.010), having good Knowledge on immunization (AOR =1.125, 95% CI=1.070-1.181, P-value=0.001), having good Practice on immunization (AOR =2.756, 95% CI=2.233-3.402, P-value=0.001) and having good Perception on vaccine (AOR =4.976, 95% CI=2.183-11.340, P-value =0.001).Conclusion: In conclusion, the result of this study has revealed that the proportion of fully vaccinated under five children in Mogadishu is very low. Steps to promote Health education and vaccine availability should be lounged.

Objective: In Somalia, a country in East Africa, no data is available about key features of stroke such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, or stroke subtypes. The objective of this study is to show the burden of stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and its risk factors in Somalia. Materials and Methods: We conducted a hospital-based retrospective study. Patients were recruited from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, at the Mogadishu Somali Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital. Results: A total of 292 participants with stroke (65.4% male and 34.6% women) were analyzed. The prevalence of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes was 66.8% and 33.2%, respectively. A system for categorization of subtypes of ischemic stroke mainly based on etiology has been developed for the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). The most prevalent was a stroke of other determined etiology (28.7%), while the least common were lunar stroke (11.3%) and cardio-embolic (13.3%). The most prevalent hemorrhagic strokes were in the basal ganglia. Conclusions: In Somalia, there is no previous data on the prevalence and risk factors of stroke. We concluded that the prevalence of hemorrhagic stroke in Somalia is higher compared to other countries in the region. Key words: Cardio-embolic, Basal ganglia, Computed tomography, Lacunar, Thalamus

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