Innovative hematological strategies to combat maternal and child mortality in Africa - focus on anemia and sickle cell disease

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

Maternal and child mortality remain pressing public health challenges in Africa, driven by preventable hematological disorders such as anemia, hemorrhage, malaria-induced hemolysis, and hematologic complications of infections. These conditions are compounded by limited diagnostic infrastructure and delayed access to advanced interventions. This narrative review examines emerging hematological strategies, emphasizing point-of-care diagnostics, genetic screening, and rapid hemoglobin quantification, alongside iron supplementation, transfusion safety, regenerative hematology, and digital health and community-based surveillance to improve equity and survival toward SDG 3.1 and 3.2.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

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Review Innovative hematological strategies to combat maternal and child mortality in Africa: focus on anemia and sickle cell disease Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, PhD* Abstract Maternal and child mortality remain pressing public health challenges in Africa, driven by preventable hematological disorders such as anemia, hemorrhage, malaria-induced hemolysis, and hematologic complications of infections. These conditions are further compounded by limited diagnostic infrastructure and delayed access to advanced interventions. This narrative review explores emerging and innovative hematological strategies aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths across the continent. It highlights the role of novel diagnostic tools such as point-of-care hematology analyzers, genetic screening for inherited blood disorders, and rapid hemoglobin quantification in improving early detection and treatment. Advancements in iron supplementation, transfusion safety, and regenerative hematology, including the use of stem cell-based therapies, are discussed as transformative solutions. Moreover, the integration of digital health platforms and community-based blood surveillance systems offers new opportunities to strengthen maternal and neonatal care. By synthesizing current evidence, this review underscores the potential of hematologycentered innovations to close equity gaps, enhance survival outcomes, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1 and 3.2) in Africa. Keywords: blood transfusion, child mortality, maternal mortality, point-of-care diagnostics, screening Introduction Maternal and child mortality continue to represent some of the most critical public health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, despite decades of global and regional interventions [1 ,2] . According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 70% of global maternal deaths and over half of child deaths occur in Africa, primarily due to preventable or treatable causes [3,4] . Hematological disorders – including severe anemia, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), malaria-related hemolysis, sickle cell disease (SCD), and nutritional deficiencies – are among the leading contributors to these deaths. These conditions not only compromise oxygen transport and hemostatic balance but also heighten susceptibility to infections and poor pregnancy outcomes[5,6] . Recent reviews and field studies emphasize that traditional interventions, though beneficial, have not sufficiently addressed the multifactorial nature of hematologic disorders in maternal and child Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article. *Corresponding author. Address: Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. Tel.: +2348037369912. [E-mail: emmanuelobeagu@yahoo.com](E-mail: emmanuelobeagu@yahoo.com) (E.I. Obeagu). Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4. 0 (CCBY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Annals of Medicine & Surgery (2026) 88:470–477 Received 10 June 2025; Accepted 4 November 2025 Published online 18 November 2025 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000004325](http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000004325) HIGHLIGHTS ● Innovative hematological strategies can reduce maternal and child mortality in Africa. ● Point-of-care diagnostics enable early detection of anemia and coagulopathies. ● Genetic screening improves management of sickle cell disease. ● Advanced transfusion systems and iron therapies enhance survival outcomes. ● Digital health and community engagement strengthen hematology-focused care delivery. health[7-9] . Factors such as delayed dia

FAQs

Which hematological disorders are highlighted as major contributors to maternal and child deaths in Africa?

The review highlights severe anemia, postpartum hemorrhage, malaria-related hemolysis, sickle cell disease, and nutritional deficiencies as leading contributors to mortality.

How do point-of-care diagnostics improve outcomes in maternal and child care?

Point-of-care hematology diagnostics enable early detection of anemia and coagulopathies, supporting faster initiation of treatment and reducing delays.

What additional innovations are discussed beyond diagnostics?

The review covers genetic screening for inherited blood disorders, safer transfusion systems, iron supplementation, regenerative hematology approaches such as stem cell-based therapies, and the integration of digital health platforms with community-based blood surveillance.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel