title: Family, Community, and Health System Considerations for Reducing the Burden of Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease in Uganda Through Newborn Screening.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with high mortality for children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. Newborn sickle screening program and enhanced capacity for SCD treatment are under development to reduce disease burden in Uganda and elsewhere in the region. Based on an international stakeholder meeting and a family-directed conference on SCD in Kampala in 2015, and interviews with parents, multinational experts, and other key informants, we describe health care, community, and family perspectives in support of these initiatives. Key stakeholder meetings, discussions, and interviews were held to understand perspectives of public health and multinational leadership, patients and families, as well as national progress, resource needs, medical and social barriers to program success, and resources leveraged from HIV/AIDS. Partnering with program leadership, professionals, patients and families, multinational stakeholders, and leveraging resources from existing programs are needed for building successful programs in Uganda and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Population Council, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sanyukta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiguli
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makani
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fashakin
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: LaRussa
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyimo
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.affiliation: Uganda-American Sickle Cell Rescue Fund, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Lukia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mulumba
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Ezekiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mupere
keywords: Uganda; community; family; newborn; screening; sickle cell disease