Low serum ferritin and G6PD deficiency as potential predictors of anaemia in pregnant women visiting Prime Care Hospital Enugu Nigeria

Geospatial disparities and predictors of anaemia among pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Anaemia has become a major public health concern among women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, little is known about the spatial disparities in anaemia prevalence and their associated factors among pregnant women in the region. This study analysed the spatial disparities in anaemia and their associated factors among pregnant women in rural and urban settings in SSA.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the most recent demographic and health surveys of 26 countries in SSA. Spatial autocorrelation and hotspot assessment were conducted, while a multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify demographic factors associated with anaemia.

RESULTS

Anaemia was reported among ~50% of pregnant women in urban and rural areas of SSA. The hotspot analysis identified the West African sub-region as having a higher concentration of anaemia cases in rural settings. In urban areas, the odds of anaemia were significantly higher among pregnant women in their second trimester (Adjusted OR = 2.39, CI = 1.99, 2.76). On the other hand, pregnant women in their third trimester (Adjusted OR = 1.98, CI = 1.77, 2.22) and those who had taken intestinal parasite drugs (Adjusted OR = 1.12 CI = 1.02, 1.23) had a higher likelihood of having anaemia in rural areas. Pregnant women aged 35-39 years (Adjusted OR = 0.52, CI = 0.33, 0.81) and those aged 40-44 years (Adjusted OR = 0.69, CI = 0.50, 0.95) had a lesser likelihood of having anaemia compared to women aged 15-19 years in urban and rural areas respectively. Compared to Congo DR, Benin (OR = 2.22, CI = 1.51, 3.28) and Mali (OR = 3.71, CI = 2.73, 5.05) had higher odds of anaemia in urban and rural areas respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Spatial disparities in anaemia persist among pregnant women in rural and urban settings in SSA. Prevailing spatial variations in anaemia may be addressed by specialised interventions considering the contextual residential settings and socio-economic factors highlighted in this study.

Burden of disease and risk factors for mortality amongst hospitalized newborns in Nigeria and Kenya

OBJECTIVE

To describe the patient population, priority diseases and outcomes in newborns admitted <48 hours old to neonatal units in both Kenya and Nigeria.

STUDY DESIGN

In a network of seven secondary and tertiary level neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya, we captured anonymised data on all admissions <48 hours of age over a 6-month period.

RESULTS

2280 newborns were admitted. Mean birthweight was 2.3 kg (SD 0.9); 57.0% (1214/2128) infants were low birthweight (LBW; <2.5kg) and 22.6% (480/2128) were very LBW (VLBW; <1.5 kg). Median gestation was 36 weeks (interquartile range 32, 39) and 21.6% (483/2236) infants were very preterm (gestation <32 weeks). The most common morbidities were jaundice (987/2262, 43.6%), suspected sepsis (955/2280, 41.9%), respiratory conditions (817/2280, 35.8%) and birth asphyxia (547/2280, 24.0%). 18.7% (423/2262) newborns died; mortality was very high amongst VLBW (222/472, 47%) and very preterm infants (197/483, 40.8%). Factors independently associated with mortality were gestation <28 weeks (adjusted odds ratio 11.58; 95% confidence interval 4.73-28.39), VLBW (6.92; 4.06-11.79), congenital anomaly (4.93; 2.42-10.05), abdominal condition (2.86; 1.40-5.83), birth asphyxia (2.44; 1.52-3.92), respiratory condition (1.46; 1.08-2.28) and maternal antibiotics within 24 hours before or after birth (1.91; 1.28-2.85). Mortality was reduced if mothers received a partial (0.51; 0.28-0.93) or full treatment course (0.44; 0.21-0.92) of dexamethasone before preterm delivery.

CONCLUSION

Greater efforts are needed to address the very high burden of illnesses and mortality in hospitalized newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions need to address priority issues during pregnancy and delivery as well as in the newborn.

Assessment of protective relationship of G6PD and other lifestyle factors with Malaria: A case-control study of medical professionals from a teaching medical institute, Gujarat

Background

There remains equivocal evidence in terms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and malaria occurrence. A case-control study was performed to assess protective relationship of G6PD and other lifestyle factors with malaria.

Methods

One-hundred twenty six medical professionals were randomly selected from a tertiary care clinical institute. Along with demographic and lifestyle details, subjects were interviewed about their history of occurrence of malaria at all in previous 10 years. Their hematological, biochemical, and metabolic profile was assessed clinically as well as by investigations. The analysis was carried out with two groups: (1) those who were subjected with malaria at least once in past 10 years (Malaria Ever Group); (2) those who never encountered malaria (Malaria Never Group).

Results

Out of 126, 65 subjects were in Malaria Ever Group and 61were in Malaria Never Group. There was no difference in lifestyle measures, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Mean G6PD levels were found similar in both the groups. Of 61 subjects in "malaria-never" group, 1 had deficient (1.1 unit/gm of Hb), 9 had low normal (between 2.5 and 10 units/gm of Hb), 48 had normal (10.1-20.5 units/gm of Hb), and 3 had higher than normal (>20.5 units/gm of Hb) G6PD levels. In comparison, 65 participants from "malaria ever" group, none was deficient, 6 had low normal, 58 had normal, and none had higher than normal G6PD levels. HPLC-based hemoglobin analysis showed significant higher number of participants in "malaria-never" group having altered hemoglobin. 12 participants had increased hemoglobin A2 levels, of which 10 were in "Malaria Occurrence Never" group; of them 6 could be diagnosed having hemoglobinopathy of specified variety. 3 of these 10 participants of "malaria-never" group had low G6PD levels also.

Conclusion

Malaria Protection Hypothesis was not found to be true as per our findings, but there were subtle hints that G6PD protection with or without change in hemoglobin alteration maybe operable.