Outcomes of Antenatal Booking Laboratory Investigations: A Report from Ilorin, Nigeria.

Abstract
Background: Antenatal booking laboratory investigations provide information on the health status
of antenatal women and at a glance highlight to the health provider areas to focus attention. The
study aimed to describe the results of these investigations and emphasize their benefits.
Methods: A cross-sectionalstudy conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin
between January 2017 and December2018. Participants were antenatal women who had their
booking laboratory investigations results reviewed at the antenatal clinic. The investigations
included Packed Cell Volume, urinalysis, Veneral Disease Research Laboratory, blood group,
Rhesus typing, genotype, hepatitisB surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C antibody test and HIV
screening. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 and p<0.05 was significant.
Results: Among the 1,000antenatal women, the mean age was30.0±5 years while 420(42.0%)
booked in the second trimester. The mean Packed Cell Volume at booking was 30±3%, 454(45.4%)
had aneamia,260(26.0%) were diagnosed with HIV, 117(11.7%) had abnormal urinalysis results,
Veneral Disease Research Laboratory test was reactive in 45(4.5%), 232(23.2%) were HBSAg
reactive, 74(7.4%) were reactive to anti-HCV, 39 (3.9%) had genotype SS while 33(3.3%) were
Rhesus D negative. There were associations between level of education (P=0.001), parity (P=0.001),
or being married (P=0.003) and positive HIV result; being married (P=0.008) and reactive hepatitis
B surface antigen test or level of education (P=0.002) and reactive Anti-HCV result.
Conclusion: Uptake of antenatal laboratory booking investigations should be encouraged to
enhance detection and management of abnormalities thereby improving pregnancy outcome.
KEYWORDS: Antenatal tests, care, routine investigations, booking, laboratory.