Evaluation of Factor Viii and Factor IX Activity among Primary School Children in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

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The values of factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) were evaluated among some primary school children in Owerri zone Imo State. The aim was to assess deficiency state or reduction in activity among these children. A total of two hundred and ten (210) venous blood samples were collected from primary school pupils whose parents consented to, and whose answers to the distributed questionnaires suggested symptoms of haemophilia. The samples were collected from pupils between the ages of five and thirteen years, and from different primary schools to represent different areas of Owerri (Works Layout Area, Nekede Area, Trans Egbu Area, and Akwukuma Area). Samples were preserved using trisodium citrate anticoagulant and transported to the haematology unit of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri within 3 hours for analysis which was done using Rayto semi auto coagulation analyzer RT 2204C with its normal ranges for factor VIII and IX activities as (50% - 200% and 70% - 200%) respectively. Out of the 210 samples collected, 16(7.6%) have <50% of factor VIII activity and 14(6.7%) have <70% of factor IX activity. Akwakuma area produced highest occurrence of factor VIII deficiency (14.8%, 8 pupils) while Works Layout and Trans Egbu Areas produced the least incidence (3.8%, 2 pupils) each. Factor IX deficiency was most prevalent at Trans Egbu Area 6(11.5%) and least at Works Layout 0(0.0%). Six children between the ages of 5 and 7 years had the highest incidence of FVIII deficiency (23.1%), while eight pupils between the ages of 11-13 years showed the highest incidence of FIX deficiency. Eight Females were found to have the highest incidence of both FVIII and FIX deficiencies (8.2% for both defects ), while the males presented a lower incidence of the same defects (7.1%, 8 pupils and 5.4%, 6 pupils respectively). The mean levels of FVIII and FIX in all the pupils evaluated are 78.61 and 89.98 respectively while the standard deviation of the results from the mean are 2.584 and 1.473 for factor VIII and IX respectively. These data show that haemophilia A and B exist in Owerri and considering the danger it portends to lives of the citizenry, Government should provide facilities in our hospitals to take care of the affected pupils to ensure a healthy society.