Abstract:
Studies undertaken evaluating the correlation between CD34+ cell yields in umbilical cord blood against birth weight, gestation age, placental weight and gender have shown different findings across different populations. Since no study has been done in our set up, this study aimed at characterizing factors that affect CD34+ cell yields in umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples in Kenyan women seen at KNH. Some of the physiological factors of interest in the study included: gender, placental weight, infant birth weight, and gestation stage. The specific research study objectives were: To determine the CD34+ cell yield/ml of umbilical cord blood, to determine the correlation between CD34+ cell yield from UCB to Gestation age, birth weight, Placental weight and Gender of the baby and to compare CD34+cell yield between normal deliveries and caesarean section (CS) deliveries. The study null hypothesis stated that there is no correlation between CD34 +cell yield with gestation age, birth weight, placental weight and gender. This was a prospective hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolling consenting expectant mothers seen at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where consecutive sampling was used. A total of 79 mothers meeting the enrolment criteria had samples taken by a trained nurse in charge of normal deliveries by clamping the umbilical cord. Mothers going for CS had samples collected in theatre using the same technique. Acquired samples were batched and analysed using a FACSCalibre machine for CD34+ testing. Using a questionnaire, the gestational age was obtained, while the birth, placental weight and gender of the baby were obtained using a data collection sheet. A Microsoft excel spreadsheet was used to collect all data and analysis was done in SPSS version 20 software. The findings showed that youngest client was 19 years and the oldest was 33 years with a mean age of 24 years. Qualitative variables were described as absolute and relative frequencies, while quantitative variables were described as means ± standard deviations. The Chi-squared test (χ2) test was used to test the homogeneity of proportions. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. The level of significance is set for a p-value <0.05. Ethical clearance was obtained from KNH/UON-ERC. A p value of (p=0.00) was obtained which is lesser than 0.05 It showed that there is a high positive relationship between CD+34 cells and gestation age, birth weight, placental weight and gender. This study concludes that the higher the birth weight, placental weight, vaginal means of giving birth the higher the number of CD34+ cells. The longer the gestations age the more the CD34+cells and hence these should be the preferred samples for banking or treatment of the various diseases.
