INCIDENCE OF HAEMOPHILIA A AND HAEMOPHILIA B DEFICIENCY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN CALABAR SOUTH

Abstract

Factor viii and factor ix are key factors in the intrinsic clotting cascade and their incidence of deficiencies varies substantially by country and limited information is available in some regions, as in Nigeria and Calabar south, cross River State where this study is carried out. The primary objective of this study is to determine the activity of factor viii and factor ix and their deficiencies among school children in Calabar south metropolis. Three government primary schools were selected which includes: government Primary Schools, Myne Avenue, Government Primary School, Anantiglia and government Primary School, Atu. A total of 120 pupils were examined with 40 pupils from each of the primary schools. Out of the 120 pupils examined 74 pupils were male while 46 pupils were females. The age range of the pupils was between 4-13 years) 4.5mls of whole blood was collected from each of the pupils through veinepuncture into a trisodium citrate container with 0.5mls volume of trisodium citrate. The samples were spun and the plasma was separated which was then transported to Federal Medical Centre) Owerri where it was analyzed. It was observed that out of the 74 pupils that were male, 56 pupils were within the age range of 4-8years while 18 pupils were within the age range of 9-13years. In the female category, 32 pupils were within the age range of 4-8years while 14 pupils were within the range of 9-13years. Out of the 56 male pupils within the age range of 4-8years, 2 pupils were deficient for factor viii, giving a percentage incidence of 3.5% and giving an overall incidence of 1. 6% out of the 120 pupils, 3 pupils out of the 56 male pupils within the age range of 4-8years were also deficient for factor ix with a percentage incidence of 5.3 %, one female out of the 32pupils within the age range of 4-8years was also deficient for factor ix, with a percentage incidence of 3.1%. This also gave an overall 3.3 % incidence for factor ix deficiency. The results observed from this study will serve as a form of documentation for the prevalence of factor viii and ix deficiencies in this study area.