Hemoglobin status in children attending paediatric clinics in Lomé, 2022.

Abstract

Aim: to estimate the prevalence of sickle cell disease among children and adolescents in the pediatric department of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital in 2022. Methods: in this cross-sectional study, all children and adolescents attending the study site were proposed to participate and included if: i) aged between 18 months and 19 years, ii) present in pediatric consultations or hospitalizations and iii) provided assent or parental informed consent. A 4-5 ml blood sample was collected for hemoglobin electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate plate at alkaline pH. Sickle cell disease was defined as having either SS, SC, SF or Sß hemoglobin phenotype. Results: A total of 317 children and adolescents aged 8 years (IQR: 4-12) in median were enrolled. Only in 7.3% of cases did both parents know their hemoglobin status. 68 children/adolescents had hemoglobin S (21.5%), 19 had sickle cell disease (6.0%). Approximately 15.6% of children and adolescents had sickle cell trait AS. Conclusion: This study revealed a high SCD prevalence in an a priori naïve children/adolescents’ population. We stress that policy makers should consider continued sensitization, genetic counseling and neonatal screening as prevention strategies in Togo.