Incidence of haemolytic disease of the newborn in Harare, Zimbabwe.
BACKGROUND
Haemolytic Disease of Newborn is responsible for a number of neonatal deaths and complications worldwide. Its incidence in Zimbabwe is not clearly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To find out incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn in Harare and ability to identify antibodies associated with HDN.


METHODS
A retrospective cross sectional study at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and National Blood Service, Zimbabwe (NBSZ). We studied 22493 infants at Parirenyatwa Hospital during the 1995-1997 and 2002-2003 periods. The main outcome measures were ABO and Rh blood group results, Direct Antiglobulin Test and Maternal Antibody Screening and Identification Results were obtained from the NBSZ.


RESULTS
One hundred and ninety-one (0.85%) infants had Haemolytic Disease of Newborn. One hundred and sixty-three (85.34%) of these were due to anti-AB, twenty five (13.09%) were due to anti-D and three (1.57%) due to anti-Kell. Incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn during 1995-1997 and 2002-2003, were 0.93% and 0.64%, respectively (p = 0.014). ABO Haemolytic Disease of Newborn showed a statistically significant difference during the two periods (p = 0.003). Rhesus Haemolytic Disease of Newborn showed no statistically significant difference during same periods (p = 0.317).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of Haemolytic Disease of Newborn at Parirenyatwa Hospital is comparable with that found in other countries. It is recommended that K antigen be included in the pretransfusion testing to avoid anti-K related Haemolytic Disease of Newborn.
Mandisodza
A R
AR
Department of Haematology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, South Africa.
Mangoyi
G
G
Musekiwa
Z
Z
Mvere
D
D
Abayomi
A
A
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology