Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Liberia: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In malaria-endemic countries in West Africa, sickle cell disease (SCD) contributes to childhood mortality. Historically, Liberia had regions wherein hemoglobin S and beta-thalassemia trait were mutually exclusive. Data on hemoglobinopathies in the Monrovia, the capital, are outdated and do not reflect urban migration. Updating the epidemiology of SCD is necessary to plan a public health and clinical agenda. Neither newborn screening (NBS) nor screening tools were available in country. This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of NBS using a South-South partnership and define the incidence of sickle cell trait (SCT) and SCD in Monrovia.

Procedure

This descriptive epidemiologic feasibility study collected dried blood spots from 2,785 consecutive newborns d

SUBMITTER: Tubman VN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4755789 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature