Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: February | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 16-20
Willingness to Donate Umbilical Cord Blood by Pregnant Women in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria
Nwannadi Ikenna Alexander1, Swende Terrumun2, Alao Olusayo Olayinka1
1Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Nwannadi Ikenna Alexander
ABSTRACT
Background: Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) is a product that is usually discarded after delivery. This “waste product” can be harvested and used as a substitute for adult blood transfusion and as a source of stem cells for Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Objectives: We sought to determine the willingness of pregnant women in Makurdi to donate their UCB after delivery.
Methods: Cross sections of women who attend antenatal clinic at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital were used for this study. A total of 250 structured questionnaires were distributed, out of which 204 were found fit for analysis. Information on socio-demography, willingness to donate UCB and factors that affect willingness were extracted. Data was collated and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science version 19.
Results: Data on socio-demography revealed that the respondents were aged 19 to 44 years, with a mean age of 29.1 ± 5.1 years. Tiv tribe made up the largest number (72.5%). Majority (44.1%) was Civil servants, 91.2% were Christians, 99.0% were married and 74.6% had tertiary education. Thirty-eight percent (38.2%) were having their first pregnancy while the rest were either having their 2nd, 3rd, 4th or more pregnancies. On willingness to donate umbilical cord blood, 83 (40.8%) of the women were willing to donate their placenta after delivery. Eight-four percent of these women said they will be doing so in order for the hospital to help them discard their placenta. The reasons for not donating placenta by the unwilling women included, preference to bury placenta at home (56.9%), protection of child’s destiny (20%), obedience to their husband’s wish (9.6%), cultural reasons (8.5%) and religious reasons (5.0%). Willingness to donate cord blood was noted to be significantly affected by the number of pregnancies. Women with first pregnancy were less willing to donate their placentas compared to women with higher number of pregnancies. (p=0.004).
Conclusion: The willingness to donate placenta after delivery by women in Makurdi is fair. Preference to bury placenta at home was the major impediment to donation of placenta by pregnant women in Makurdi. Public enlightenment on the value of UCB is recommended to reverse this trend.
Key words: Willingness, Umbilical Cord blood, Pregnant women, Makurdi