Sickle Cell Anaemia: A Prevalence Study among the Children Attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) and other abnormal haemoglobin variants among the children attending the Paediatrics outpatients Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North-Western of Nigeria.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study designed to investigate the prevalence of Sickle Cell Anaemia and other variants of abnormal haemoglobin among 395 children attending Paediatrics Outpatients Department of UDUTH, Sokoto.

Place and Duration of Study: Paediatrics Outpatients Department of UDUTH, Sokoto, North Western Nigeria, between January and April, 2016.

Methodology: A total of three hundred and ninety-five (395) children aged 6 months -15 years were recruited for this study. Their haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns were determined at alkaline pH (8.6) using the method described by the Helena Biosciences procedure.

Results: Of the three hundred and ninety-five (395) children recruited for this study, the prevalence of haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns recorded were HbAA, HbAS, HbSS, HbAF, HbSS+F, HbAC and HbSC, that is; 70.0%, 15.2%, 5.0%, 0.3%, 6.0%, 2.0%, and 1.5% respectively. Hence the prevalence of SCA among the study subjects was 11% (5.0% HbSS + 6.0% HbSS+F).

Conclusions: While HbAA is the predominant haemoglobin electrophoresis pattern in our environment, there is also a significant number of sickle cell anaemia that is of every 10 children in the study, one has SCA. It is necessary therefore, to keep abreast with developments in the area of its management in order to cope with the challenges.