Prevalence and Factors Associated with Parvovirus B19 Infection among Blood Donors: A Hospital‑Based Study in South‑West, Nigeria

Background: Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a transfusion transmissible infection that can result in severe consequences in vulnerable population that includes pregnant women, immunocompromised and chronic hemolytic anemia patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with B19V infection amongst blood donors in South–West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comparative cross‑sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of B19V immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody among 183 blood donors at the blood bank of a tertiary hospital. The results were analyzed with SPSS 23 software, prevalence and associated factors were determined using frequencies and logistic regression, respectively. Results: The prevalence of B19V IgM was 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 4–11) with a higher prevalence among male donors compared to females (84.6% vs. 15.4%, P = 0.54). There was a statistically significant difference in the seropositivity of B19V IgM amongst the ethnic groups with the Yoruba ethnic group having a higher proportion of B19V IgM‑positive participants P = 0.04. Ethnicity, gender, and steady employment were also associated with increased odds of infection, while increasing age appeared to be protective; though none of these factors were statistically significant. Conclusion: This study has shown that there is still high exposure to transfusion transmissible B19V infection. Keywords: Blood donor, parvovirus immunoglobulin M antibody, sickle cell anaemi

Lower intestinal endoscopy- inaugural year experience from a private centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Colonoscopy is an indispensable tool for investigating and intervening in disorders of the lower intestinal tract. There is an increasing body of data showcasing the findings and experiences of the various centers that carry out the procedure in Nigeria.Objectives: This study set out to document the patterns of patient presentation, clinical characteristics of such patients and findings at colonoscopy.Methodology: This was a retrospective study carried out on the records of the patients that presented for colonoscopy during the first year of operations (August 2014 to July 2015) of the endoscopy unit of Clinix Healthcare in Lagos, Nigeria. The endoscopy register was reviewed to retrieve clinical details of patients, the colonoscopy indication and findings.Results: A total of 125 colonoscopies were performed during this period. There were 85(68%) males and 40(32%) females, giving a male to female ratio of 2.1:1. The clients’ age ranged from 23 to 94years with a mean of 52.4years ±14.2. Most clients were in the 6th decade of life. Only 7(4.8%) had been referred for a routine screen. The most common symptom at presentation were haematochezia alone (73=58.4%) or in combination with other symptoms (90=72%). Others were alteration in bowel habits (15=12%), abdominal pain (12=9.6%) and suspected gastrointestinal bleeding as indicated by melaena stools or anaemia of undetermined origin (8=6.4%). A normal study was reported in 19(15.2%) procedures. Overall, the diagnostic yield was 84.8%. The most common abnormality was haemorrhoids as seen in a total of 68 patients. Other findings were suspected cancerous lesions in 25 patients, diverticular disease in 14 patients, polyps in 12 patients and features suggestive of mucosal inflammation alone in 6 patients.Conclusion: The findings from the first year of colonoscopy in our Lagosbased privately owned centre showed that the most common indication for referral was lower GI bleeding, and the most commonly diagnosed lesion was haemorrhoids. These, are in keeping with previously documented series from other centres in the country.Keywords: Anaemia, bowel habits, haematochezia, haemorrhoids, male

Prevalence and determinants of moderate-to-severe anaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract The high burden of anaemia during pregnancy underscores the urgent need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to its widespread occurrence. Our study assessed the prevalence and the trends of moderate-to-severe anaemia (MSA) in late pregnancy (28 to 36 weeks) and then investigated the key determinants driving this prevalence among women in Lagos, Nigeria. We conducted a secondary data analysis involving 1216 women enrolled in the Predict-PPH study between January and March 2023. We employed a multivariate binary logistic regression model with a backward stepwise selection approach to identify significant predictors of MSA. The study revealed a 14.5% prevalence of MSA during pregnancy. Independent predictors of MSA included having given birth to two or more children (adjusted odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.07), having a maternal body mass index (BMI) of 28 kg/m2 or higher (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.29–2.61), having less than tertiary education (adjusted odds ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–2.11), and being unemployed (adjusted odds ratio = 1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.19–3.26). It is crucial for pregnant women, particularly those with higher parities and elevated BMI, to be monitored regularly for anaemia and its consequences during their antenatal care. Additionally, addressing the link between low education, unemployment, and anaemia necessitates comprehensive strategies that empower women in terms of education and economic status to enhance the overall well-being of individuals and communities, ultimately reducing the prevalence of anaemia and associated health issues in pregnancy

Prenatal anaemia and risk of postpartum haemorrhage: a cohort analysis of data from the Predict-PPH study

Abstract Background Most previous clinical studies investigating the connection between prenatal anaemia and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) have reported conflicting results. Objectives We examined the association between maternal prenatal anaemia and the risk of PPH in a large cohort of healthy pregnant women in five health institutions in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Methods This was a prospective cohort analysis of data from the Predict-PPH study that was conducted between January and June 2023. The study enrolled n = 1222 healthy pregnant women giving birth in five hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. The study outcome, WHO-defined PPH, is postpartum blood loss of at least 500 milliliters. We used a multivariable logistic regression model with a backward stepwise conditional approach to examine the association between prenatal anaemia of increasing severity and PPH while adjusting for confounding factors. Results Of the 1222 women recruited to the Predict-PPH study between January and June 2023, 1189 (97·3%) had complete outcome data. Up to 570 (46.6%) of the enrolled women had prenatal anaemia while 442 (37.2%) of those with complete follow-up data had WHO-defined PPH. After controlling for potential confounding factors, maternal prenatal anaemia was independently associated with PPH (adjusted odds ratio = 1.37, 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.79). However, on the elimination of interaction effects of coexisting uterine fibroids and mode of delivery on this association, a sensitivity analysis yielded a lack of significant association between prenatal anaemia and PPH (adjusted odds ratio = 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.99–1.64). We also recorded no statistically significant difference in the median postpartum blood loss in women across the different categories of anaemia (P = 0.131). Conclusion Our study revealed that prenatal anaemia was not significantly associated with PPH. These findings challenge the previously held belief of a suspected link between maternal anaemia and PPH. This unique evidence contrary to most previous studies suggests that other factors beyond prenatal anaemia may contribute more significantly to the occurrence of PPH. This highlights the importance of comprehensive assessment and consideration of various maternal health factors in predicting and preventing this life-threatening obstetric complication