Which Babies Get Blood in Jos-Nigeria?

Abstract

Documentation of the transfusion needs of neonatal units is required to guide blood banks in meeting demands. A prospective observational study of newborn transfusions over 35 weeks was conducted. Eighty-four transfusions were conducted in 62 of 377 (16.45%) admitted infants in 35 weeks. Neonatal jaundice (57.2%) and anemia (38.1%) were main indications. In 85.7% cases, blood transfused was < 3 days old. Weight of infants at transfusion was < 2500 g in 51.6% cases. Infants were first transfused at < 7 days in 59.7% cases. Whole blood was used in 64.3% of all cases. Overall transfusion rate was 2.4/week. Neonatal jaundice is the commonest indication for transfusion and whole blood is in greater demand.

Pattern and determinants of blood transfusion in a Nigerian neonatal unit

“…This was relatively higher than the rate of one out of every six, reported earlier from Jos, Nigeria. [8] Similarly, the rate of 4.8 transfusions per week observed in the present study was high indicating a great utilization of blood and transfusion services in our unit. The transfusion rate in our unit was also double the rate of 2.4 transfusions per week previously reported from Jos, Nigeria.…”

“…The transfusion rate in our unit was also double the rate of 2.4 transfusions per week previously reported from Jos, Nigeria. [8] It is not certain why we recorded double the rate of Jos at our center, but we speculate that it might be due to the fact that most of the babies studied in our center were referred. Previous studies had shown that referred babies were at a higher risk for morbidities.…”

“…More than half of the babies studied in the present report had multiple transfusions, unlike 29% previously reported from Jos, Nigeria. [8] Further to this is the observation that preterm babies often require multiple transfusions compared to term babies. This might be related to the greater physiological predisposition of preterm babies to anemia compared to term babies.…”

Blood use in sub‐Saharan Africa: a systematic review of current data

“…Within the cesarean section–only studies, placenta previa at 27% (47 of 431) and obstructed labor at 25% (44 of 431) were the leading indications for transfusion. Among newborn babies, WB and RBC products were used in relatively equal measure, and neonatal jaundice and bleeding together accounted for 66% (218 of 477) of the products transfused overall …”

“…These 10 studies were used for the primary outcome calculation. The rest of the studies evaluated blood use among specific patient groups: nine studies among pediatric patients only; five on obstetrics and gynecology patients; three among cesarean section deliveries; three among newborn babies; two among elective surgical operations; two exclusively on the use of platelets; two on the use of autologous blood; and one among hepatogastroenterology patients . Most studies made a clear distinction between the number of patients transfused and the number of blood products used for transfusion.…”