Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
Child Health Research Group, Epidemiology Research Unit, CAIHR, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
J Natl Med Assoc. 2023 Oct;115(5):475-481. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2023.07.005. Epub 2023 Aug 6.
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for neurocognitive deficits that can affect school performance, and psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to assess the academic performance of school-aged children with SCD in Jamaica compared to their school peers.
A cross-sectional survey of academic performance was done in a group of children 11 to 13 years of age, using a standardized state administered examination, the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), covering 5 subjects. Scores were obtained from the Ministry of Education (MOE) for eligible children with SCD, as well as mean scores with standard deviation for unaffected classmates by gender. Socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained from our sickle cell clinic database and an interview administered questionnaire.
Sixty-four children satisfied eligibility criteria. Children with SCD had lower percentage scores and significantly lower mean z-scores for 4 of 5 subjects (p < 0.05). Males had significantly lower mean z-scores compared with females. Thirty-seven children (57.8%) were classified as underperformers. Haemoglobin level was a significant predictor of subject score rank.
Children with SCD in Jamaica perform worse in standardized school examinations than their class peers with boys being particularly vulnerable.
镰状细胞病（SCD）患儿存在神经认知缺陷风险，这可能会影响他们的学业表现和社会心理功能。本研究旨在评估牙买加学龄期 SCD 患儿的学业表现，并与同龄正常儿童进行比较。
采用标准化州级考试——六年级成就测验（GSAT）对 11 至 13 岁的儿童进行了一次横断面的学业表现调查，涵盖 5 个科目。从教育部（MOE）获得符合条件的 SCD 儿童的成绩，以及按性别获得未受影响同学的平均分数和标准差。社会人口统计学和临床数据来自我们的镰状细胞病诊所数据库和问卷调查。
共有 64 名儿童符合入选标准。SCD 患儿的百分比分数较低，5 个科目中有 4 个的平均 z 分数明显较低（p < 0.05）。男性的平均 z 分数明显低于女性。37 名儿童（57.8%）被归类为表现不佳者。血红蛋白水平是学科分数排名的显著预测因素。
牙买加的 SCD 患儿在标准化学校考试中的表现不如同龄正常儿童，男孩尤其容易受到影响。
