PREVALENCE OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEONATES IN AFRICA

Abstract

This review article has been conducted in order to evaluate the way of managing sickle cell diseases in African countries. Reviews of four researches have been reviewed. All of them mentioned that sickle cell diseases lead to complications during pregnancy, parturition and perinatal period. The study of Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy Maternal and Fetal Outcome in Port Harcourt in Nigeria this study has done in 4500 mothers booked during prenatal care and the results indicated that 0.2% of them had SCD. The study indicated that where malaria is endemic maternal complications due to SCD increases like 60% had cesarean section, 20% postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia. The argument comes by recommending the government to do early SCD detection. The study conducted in Uganda on sickle cell trait and disease focusing on early detection of SCD in infants  mentioned that prevalence is high in Sub-Saharan Africa; the argument is that there is no specific studied universe. The study on  Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy- Trend and Pregnancy Outcomes at a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania published in 2013 done by  Projestine S. Muganyizi, Hussein Kidanto at Muhimbiri National Hospital. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare  outcomes of SCD deliveries and non SCD deliveries. All the women delivered from 1999 to 2011 in MNH was 157,473 and 149 were  SCD deliveries in which 17 deaths occurred, thus made an incidence maternal death of 1141 per 100,000 deliveries against 439 per 100,000 deliveries for non SCD deliveries. This is due to perinatal complications. If managed at district hospital level this high  mortality from SCD is reduced. The study done in great lake region from 2004 to 2006 Evaluated a sample of 1825 neonates  sampled and found that 97(5.32%) had SCD. based on this review; we recommend health education during prenatal period.  Governments also are recommended to support early detection of SCD to manage complications. Proposed model can help in each steps of managing this silent killer.