Routine screening for sickle cell haemoglobinopathy by electrophoresis in an infant welfare clinic.
The experience of a Nigerian infant welfare clinic in offering sickle cell haemoglo-binopathy (SCH) screening by electrophoresis to its clinic population over a 12-year period is reported. Overall 10,115 children were screened. Homozygous haemoglobin S was detected in 3.1% and haemoglobin S + C in 1.1%. Carriers of the sickle cell gene (haemoglobin A + S) comprised 23.7% of the children screened. Gene frequencies for the A, S and C genes were 0.814, 0.155 and 0.031 respectively. The gene frequencies of the S and C genes were higher than those reported in infants and under-five children from other parts of Nigeria. Screening for sickle cell haemoglobinopathy in the first year of life through infant welfare clinics and 'well-baby' clinics as described in this report is suggested as a viable approach to the problems of detection (and genetic counselling) of SCH in developing countries with their scant resources. The advantages and limitations of this approach are discussed.
Omotade
O O
OO
Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Kayode
C M
CM
Falade
S L
SL
Ikpeme
S
S
Adeyemo
A A
AA
Akinkugbe
F M
FM
D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006450:Hemoglobin SC Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*