Hala Abdullahi

Antenatal iron and folic acid supplementation use by pregnant women in Khartoum, Sudan

BackgroundAnaemia during pregnancy can lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. The WHO recommends that all pregnant women in areas where anaemia is prevalent receive supplements of iron and folic acid. However, due to many factors, the use of iron and folic acid supplementation is still low in many countries. This study was conducted to assess the rates of iron-folic supplementation and the associated factors during pregnancy and the effects of taking iron-folic acid supplementation on rates of maternal anaemia and low birth weight (LBW) infants.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Khartoum Hospital, Sudan. Enrolled women answered a questionnaire on socio-demographics characteristics, their pregnancy and delivery.ResultsOf 856 women, 788 (92.1%) used iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and 65.4% used folic acid. While place of residence, occupation and level of education were not associated with iron-folic acid usage, older age (OR = 3, CI = 1.4–6.3) and use of antenatal care (OR = 14.3, CI = 7.4–27.5) were associated with iron-folic acid use. Primiparity (OR = 3.8, CI = 1.9–7.6), maternal employment (OR = 3.9, CI = 2.25–6.77) and use of antenatal care (OR = 7.9, CI = 4.1–15) were the factors associated with folic acid. Using iron-folic acid was protective against anaemia (OR = 0.39, CI = 0.2–0.7) and LBW infants (OR = 0.3, CI = 0.17–0.68).ConclusionThere was a high rate of iron-folic acid supplementation use among pregnant women in Khartoum, Sudan, which was beneficial in preventing anaemia in expectant mothers and infants of LBW.

Red blood cell distribution width is not correlated with preeclampsia among pregnant Sudanese women

BackgroundPreeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. The exact etiology of preeclampsia is unknown, but the inflammatory process is postulated as one of the etiologies. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of anisocytosis (variation of red cell size) and is associated with hypertension and diabetic ketoacidosis. There are few data on the association between RDW and preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the association between RDW and preeclampsia.MethodsA case–control study was conducted at Khartoum Hospital, Sudan, during June to August 2012. Cases were women with preeclampsia and healthy women were controls. Sociodemographic characteristics, obstetrics, and clinical data were recorded. The complete blood count, including RDW, was measured using an automated hematology analyzer.ResultsThe cases and controls (65 women in each arm) were matched in their basic characteristics. There was no difference in the mean (SD) RDW between women with preeclampsia and controls (14.5 ± 1.8% vs. 14.4 ± 1.4%, P = 0.710). There was also no difference in the mean RDW between women with mild and severe preeclampsia (14.7 ± 1.9% vs. 13.9 ± 1.4%, P = 0.144. In logistic regression, there was no association between RDW and preeclampsia (OR = 0.9, CI = 0.7–1.1, P = 0.952).ConclusionsRDW levels are not associated with the presence or severity of preeclampsia.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1206247718115175

An Epidemic of Cesarean Deliveries at Khartoum Hospital in Sudan with Over Two-Fifths of Neonates Delivered through the Abdomen

An Epidemic of Cesarean Deliveries at Khartoum Hospital in Sudan with Over Two-Fifths of Neonates Delivered through the Abdomen A cross-sectional study was conducted at Khartoum Hospital in Sudan from October to December 2011 to investigate the rate, types, and indications of cesarean delivery. A structured questionnaire was administered to each woman with a singleton neonate to gather information on obstetrics, sociodemographic characteristics and the mode of delivery.

Intra-partum fever and cerebral palsy in Khartoum, Sudan

BackgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a major cause of childhood disability. There are various maternal and neonatal predictors associated with the development of CP, and they are variable across different populations. This case–control study was designed to investigate maternal and neonatal predictors of CP at Khartoum pediatric neurology clinics. Data (maternal sociodemographic characteristics and neonatal expected predictors) were collected from mothers of children with CP and healthy controls using questionnaires.ResultsOne hundred and eleven cases of CP and 222 controls were included. Spastic CP was the most common type (69.4%). In logistic regression, maternal age, parity, birth weight, and sex were not associated with CP. However, maternal fever (OR = 8.4, CI = 2.3–30.5; P = 0.001), previous neonatal death (OR = 5.4, CI = 1.8–16.2; P = 0.003), and poor sucking (OR = 30.5, CI = 10.0–93.1; P < 0.001) were predictors of CP.ConclusionsFever during labor is a significant risk factor for developing CP in children. Further efforts are required for labor management to prevent CP in this setting.

Prospective cohort study of persistent hypertension following pre-eclampsia at Medani Hospital, Sudan

To evaluate the incidence of, and factors associated with, persistent hypertension in patients with pre‐eclampsia.