Retrospective assessment of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the special care baby unit of a private health facility in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Background: Newborn morbidity and mortality have remained unacceptably high in developing countries despite consistent efforts at controlling the scourge. Unlike in developed countries where neonatal mortality rate ranges between 1 and 5 per 1000 live births, average neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria is 36 per 1000 live births. The majority of the causes of death are largely preventable with timely low cost interventions. This study was structured to determine the pattern of morbidity and mortality amongst babies admitted in the Special Care Baby Unit of Madonna hospital Makurdi, Nigeria.Methods: The records of neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) over a tenyear period (2005-2015) were retrospectively reviewed. Information obtained included the sex, age at admission, gestational age, birth weight, reasons for admission and outcome of treatment.Results: A total of 1,121 babies were admitted during the period under review. The male female ratio was 1.2:1.The majority of the babies were aged between 2-7 days with a mean 6.17.+ 7.01 The mean weight on admission was 2807+907g. Neonatal sepsis, jaundice, low birth weight and birth asphyxia were the most common morbidities. The overall mortalityrate was 14.1%; however, proportionate mortality due to low birth weight was highest (26.4%), followed by tetanus (23.5%), asphyxia (20.8%), Respiratory tract infection (13.8%), meningitis (13.3%), sepsis (10.3%), jaundice (9.6%), and diarhoea (4.0%)Conclusion: Neonatal mortality rate in the study was high. The major causes of admission are preventable. Strengthening perinatal care, emergency obstetric care services and neonatal resuscitation skills are necessary to reduce the neonatal mortality

Is Human Immunodeficiency Virus Still Transmissible Through Blood Transfusion in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Jos, Nigeria.

Aims: To compare the prevalence of HIV infection amongst transfused and non-transfused children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Jos, Nigeria and explore the factors affecting it. Study Design: This was a prospective case control study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics (Sickle Cell Clinic), Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, between January 2008 and March 2009. Methodology: A total of 200 transfused children with SCA (117 males and 83 females) were recruited consecutively and screened for HIV using rapid test kits. A questionnaire was used to ascertain the details of blood transfusion and other relevant clinical information. Two hundred age and sex matched non-transfused children with SCA attending the same clinic were recruited as controls. Results: The prevalence of HIV infection amongst transfused children with SCA was 2%, compared to 0% in the control group (P=.04). The four HIV positive cases were transfused in private hospitals with blood of unknown screening status. The number of blood transfusions was not a significant factor in acquiring HIV infection (P=.78); however remunerative blood donation increased the risk of acquiring HIV through blood transfusion (AOR=6.28; 95% CI (1.82-9.92); P=.01). Conclusion: HIV is still transmissible through blood transfusion and screening of blood before transfusion is still not completely practiced in Jos, Nigeria. Policies on proper screening of blood before transfusion and voluntary blood donation should therefore be enforced at all levels of healthcare.

HBS-Antigenaemia in in- and outpatient children at University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Using the Elisa method; 437 children of both sexes and aged 2 months to 15 years; who had no signs suggestive of hepatitis B virus infection were screened for the presence of HBsAg in their remaining 170; were admitted into the ward on account of illness that were not suggestive of hepatitis. (10.88of all the children screened were positive for HBsAg. 13.5of those who were admitted into the ward were HBsAg positive. Nine percent of the outpatients study group who were generally less ill than the admitted patients; were HBsAg positive. There were no statistically significant difference in HBs-Antigenaemia in both groups of children