Prevalence and Pattern of Blood and Blood Components Utilization at the Kenyatta National Hospital Maternity Unit in 2022. A Descriptive Cohort Study

Abstract

Blood and blood components transfusion plays a pivotal lifesaving role on a regular basis. Availability of safe and adequate amounts of blood and blood components is important because it significantly reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. Maternity units consume the largest percentage of available blood/blood components and are often pushed into replacement donations. There is a paucity of data on blood/blood component transfusion in maternity units in Kenya, this study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of blood/ blood components utilization among women managed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) labour, antenatal, postnatal and acute gynaecology wards in 2022-2023. Methods and Materials The study adopted a descriptive cohort design. The study population was made up of women admitted at KNH labour, antenatal, postnatal and acute gynaecology wards. Consecutive sampling was used to recruit participants among women who were admitted in labour, antenatal, postnatal and acute gynaecology wards. A data abstraction chart was used for data collection. The study variables of interest included: the proportion of patients who require blood/blood component, indications for transfusion, number of units availed against those requested and the outcomes of the participants. Data was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26®. Data was analysed per objective. To determine the prevalence of blood/blood transfusion a percentage of patients who received blood or blood components was calculate over the total sample size. To determine the percentage per indication for transfusion, a particular indication was calculated over the total number of indications and expressed in percentages. The need was calculated as the total need as per blood requests excluding routine crossmatching requests. Continuous data was analysed for mean and standard deviation. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for variables with categorical data...