Preconception care and sickle cell anemia in pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy in women with sickle cell anemia is associated with adverse outcome for mother and child; but with improvements in medical care; the outcome has greatly improved in developed countries. Despite being the most prevalent genetic disease in Africa; sickle-cell disease; along with its serious health problems in pregnancy; is largely neglected. Objective: To determine the effects of preconceptual care on pregnancy outcome among booked patients with homozygous sickle cell disease at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cohort study of the pregnancy outcome; among booked 39 pregnant women with homozygous sickle cell disease (Hbss); who had preconception care; and an equal number of booked pregnant women with homozygous sickle cell disease (Hbss); who did not have preconception care (controls); at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; between January 2000 and December 2006. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of complications between the two groups; but complications occurred with less frequency among the cases compared to the controls. Conclusion: This study suggest that preconception care and effective prenatal care by a multidisciplinary team; and delivery in a hospital which is accustomed to management of sickle cell disease and its complications; is associated with good pregnancy outcome in women with sickle cell anemia in pregnancy

Risk factors of pre-eclampsia in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

A prospective observational study of the risk factors of pre-eclampsia in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano; Nigeria over a 5 year period was conducted. The socio-demographic characteristics and obstetric variables of 212 women who had pre-eclampsia and delivered in our unit; were compared with that of the other women who delivered in our unit but did not have pre-eclampsia during the period of study. The data obtained were analyzed using Epi-Info Version 6.0 (CDC Atlanta USA). Chi-square test was used to compare groups for significant differences. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. The odds ratio (OR) and 95confidence interval (CI) were determined. Extremes of reproductive age and parity; low socioeconomic and unbooked status; positive family history of hypertention and ecess weight gain were found to be significant risk factors. Provision of free or subsidized and accessible antenatal care services; campaign for female education and employment; as well as acceptance of modern family planning methods; will prevent pregnancies at extremes of reproductive age; grandmultiparity; and unbooked status; and reduce the prevalence of pre-eclampsia