The Blood Groups , Abnormal Hemoglobins , and Hemoglobin Values of Pregnant Women in Liberia

During the course of a survey of the blood groups and abnormal hemoglobins of Liberia, we have examined the blood of 117 women attending an antenatal clinic at the Lutheran Mission Hospital, Zorzor, Liberia. The clinic was scheduled weekly, and the women were given iron and vitamin supplements at each attendance, which in some cases was irregular. The great majority of these women were in the 5th to 9th month of pregnancy; however, a more recent follow-up of these women by one of us (E.B.) has found that one was not pregnant and 4 others were stated to have aborted but could possibly not have been pregnant. Zorzor is situated in the central interior of Liberia about 5 miles from the Guinea border. It is in the territory of the Loma tribe, but with the opening up of the country in recent years immigrants from other tribes have settled in the area. In addition to the Loma, who constitute the majority of our sample of pregnant women, two other tribes are represented, the Kpelle, who inhabit the country south of Zorzor, and the Mandingo, who have come into the area as cola nut farmers and traders from Guinea to the north.