Abstract:

Objectives: To determine the magnitude of blood transfusion group most needed by many children, the indications of blood transfusions, and blood components distribution among the pediatric ward of Bugando medical centre from January to June 2016.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study.

Study area: Bugando medical centre blood bank and medical records

Study population: Children who were admitted in paediatric wards, premature unit and NICU and received blood transfusion from January to June 2016.

Results: Four hundred and fifteen transfusion was done out of 2018 admissions. There were 262 files which were available and with complete data and these were analyzed. Out of 262 children, 188 (71.8%) received blood once, 60 (22.9%) received blood twice and only 5 children received blood four times. The main transfused blood was whole blood, only one child received packed cells and none received neither FFP nor platelets. The blood groups of the recipients were mainly O+ 146 (55.7%), A+ 67 (5.6%), B+ 39 (14.9%), O+ 6 (2.3%), A- 3 (1.1%), B- 1 (0.4%). The indicators for blood transfusion were: sickle cell (31.3%), sepsis (16.4%), prematurity with low birth weight and neonatal sepsis (14.9%), severe malaria (11.5%), Pre/post operation (6.5%), bleeding disorder of the newborn (5%) and others (14.5%).

Conclusion: Blood transfusion rate is low but the magnitude is big as units of blood were needed for transfusion to save life in the four children wards. Sickle cell anemia is the highest diagnosis leading blood transfusion in children of one year and above. Prematurity with low birth weight super imposed by neonatal sepsis (both early and late) and jaundice are the causes of multiple blood transfusions in newborns. The blood group O+ is the most needed followed by A+ and B+. Whole blood is the most used blood compared to other components.