title: The burden of HIV and AIDS on blood bank reserves in northeast Nigeria.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the burden of HIV/AIDS on blood bank reserves at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, during 1995-2005. The number of admissions due to HIV/AIDS rose from 43 in 1995 to 447 in 2005, and the proportion of blood units used in transfusing patients with HIV/AIDS rose steadily from 3% in 1995 to 19% in 2005. The proportion of blood units used in managing obstetric patients was also high and fluctuated between 36% and 50% during the period of study. Controlling the spread of HIV, effective treatment of patients with antiretroviral drugs and setting up a functional national blood transfusion service could lessen the rising burden of transfusion in Nigeria and improve blood availability for maternal and child health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. drsagirahmed@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kagu
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies