Pattern and determinants of blood transfusion in a Nigerian neonatal unit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the pattern and determinants of blood transfusion in a Nigerian neonatal unit.


METHODS
Newborn babies who required blood transfusions between January and December, 2008, were studied. The sex, age, and weight at the first transfusion, clinical conditions, indications for transfusion, and the outcome were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate methods.


RESULTS
A total of 402 neonates were hospitalized and 112 (27.9%) had blood transfusion; 61.9% had exchange transfusion, 66.1% had red cell transfusion, and 8% had plasma transfusion. There were 251 transfusions with a rate of 4.8 transfusions per week. Blood transfusions were done for severe jaundice (55.4%), severe anemia (40.2%), and bleeding disorders (4.4%). Weight < 2.5 kg, outside delivery, and jaundice were independent determinants of neonatal transfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
The blood transfusion rate in this facility was remarkably high. Improved standard of newborn care and infrastructural support are required to reduce the transfusion rate.
Department of Pediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria. tinuade_ogunlesi@yahoo.co.uk
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Ogunlesi
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Ogunfowora
D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution