Antenatal haemoglobin profile at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of haemoglobin (Hb) measurement and some socio-demographic characteristics in women attending antenatal clinic.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Antenatal clinic, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.


METHODS
Nine hundred and thirty two pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic at the hospital. Patients with sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, sickling test positive or unknown sickling status were excluded.


METHODS
Proportion of patients whose records showed various frequencies of Hb determinations and the proportion of those with anaemia at 26 weeks and 34 weeks gestations.


RESULTS
One hundred and seventy five (18.8%) patients did not have antenatal Hb measurement; 248 (26.6%) had two, and 251 (26.9%) had more than two measurements. The mean of booking Hb was 10.6 + 1.53 gm/dl. Of the 458 subjects with reliable dates, 293 had their booking Hb measurement at < 26 weeks. For this sub-group the mean was 10.8 +/- 1.43 gm/dl. (22.5% were < 10 gm/dl). For 272 subjects with reliable dates whose last Hb measurement was at > 34 weeks, the mean last Hb was 11.0 +/- 1.37 gm/dl. (last Hb was < 10 gm/dl in 19.1%). Nulliparity and booking antenatal weight < 64.0 kg were significantly associated with Hb < 10 gm/dl at some time during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Anaemia in pregnancy is common in this urban population. Combined effects of iron-folate supplementation, malaria chemoprophylaxis as well as early booking and a waiver of antenatal care user fees for needy patients are suggested as remedial measures.
Lassey
A T
AT
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra.
Klufio
C A
CA
Annan
B D
BD
Wilson
J B
JB
D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data