Transfusion sanguine chez les nouveau-nés à l’Hôpital Gynéco- Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Douala: prévalence, facteurs associés et complications
Keywords:
Associated factors, blood transfusion, newborns, Cameroon.Abstract
Background: The administration of blood products to newborns carries risks that require careful assessment for this vulnerable age group. Objective: To determine the factors associated with blood transfusion in newborns hospitalised at the Douala Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital. Methods: We conducted a six-year cross-sectional observational study from January 2019 to December 2024. The records of newborns aged 0 to 28 days were selected at random. The data were entered into Excel and then analysed using SPSS 29. Quantitative variables were described as means+/- standard deviations, and qualitative variables as numbers and percentages. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate associations, and logistic regression was used to identify associated factors, with a threshold of 5%.
Results: Of the 385 participants recruited, 87 received transfusions, representing a blood transfusion prevalence rate of 22.6%. Red blood cell concentrate was the most commonly transfused blood product (80.62%). The factors associated with blood transfusion were: in-hospital complications (RPa= 7.33; 95% CI (2.95-18.21), Pa value=0.001); multiple pregnancies (RPa = 2.58; 95% CI (1.58-4.23), Pa value=0.003); length of hospital stay more than 7 days (RPa= 1.21; 95% CI = (1.13- 1.30), Pa value <0.001); pallor (RPa = 1.20; 95% CI = (0.25- 0.74), Pa value <0.001) and IUGR (RPa = 1.26; 95% CI = (1.56- 2.54), Pa value = 0.001). Transfusion complications occurred in 6 (6.9 %) participants, with 4 (66.67%) cases of dyspnoea and 2 (33.33%) cases of fever.
Conclusion: Knowledge of transfusion factors improves neonatal safety, and rare complications require careful monitoring of transfused newborns.
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