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Transfusions with blood products form an essential part of obstetric practice. A retrospective record review of all mothers (26) who received blood transfusions over a period of one month in May 2010 was performed at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Descriptive analysis was performed. Blood transfusion was commonly observed in women with late antenatal booking, human immunodeficiency virus positivity, multiparity, anaemia at first visit, and normal vaginal delivery. Iron supplementation usage was very poor in this group of women. The most common indication for transfusion was postpartum haemorrhage. These associated factors should be used to identify pregnant women at risk, so that timely and adequate treatment of anaemia may decrease the need for transfusion. Adequate care should also be given in the management of the third stage of labour, to prevent avoidable morbidities (postpartum haemorrhage, retained products of conception, and vaginal lacerations), leading to excessive blood loss and the need for transfusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the risk factors for occupational allergic sensitization and various asthma phenotypes in poultry-workers., Methods: A cross-sectional study of 230 workers used a modified ECRHS questionnaire, spirometry, FeNO, Phadiatop, and sIgE to poultry farming related allergens., Results: Worker's mean age was 37 ± 9 years, 68% male, 43% current-smokers, 34% atopic, and 5% casual-workers. The prevalence of non-atopic asthma (NAA = 7%) was higher than atopic-asthma (AA = 5%) and probable allergic occupational-asthma (OA = 3%). Sensitization to at least one poultry farming related allergen was 24%. Workers sensitized to chicken-specific-allergens were more likely to be atopic (OR unadj  = 20.9, 95%CI: 4.7-93.2) or employed as casual-workers (OR unadj  = 6.0, 95%CI: 1.1-35.9). Work-related chest symptoms were associated the rearing-department (OR adj  = 3.2, 95%CI: 1.2-8.4) and exposure to high gas/dust/fumes (OR adj  = 4.8, 95%CI: 2.4-9.5). Airflow reversibility (OR adj  = 10.9, 95%CI: 2.0-60.3) was significantly associated with casual-work status., Conclusion: Allergic and non-allergic mechanisms play a role in asthma development among poultry-workers with casual workers demonstrating increased risk., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)