Ugwu A O, Okamkpa C J, Anigbo C S, Muoghalu E A, Obodo O I, Onwasigwe C R, Ekwueme P C, Ene G U
Haematology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria. Email:
Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2025 Jan 30;42(1):44-51.
According to the World Health Organization, about 5% of the world's population has the abnormal haemoglobin gene with Nigeria having the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD). Concerted efforts should target the reduction of SCD prevalence.
This study aimed to determine the various factors that contribute to the non-dwindling prevalence of SCD in Nigeria.
A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out on 883 respondents aged 18 years and above between February 2021 and March 2023 in Enugu State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain relevant socio-demographic data, family history of SCD, knowledge of their haemoglobin phenotype, and information on any previous misdiagnosis of their haemoglobin phenotype. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 26.0 (Chicago, Illinois) was used for data analysis. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Median age was 43 years with a range of 18-88 years. Seven hundred and forty-three (743/883, 81.1%) have done the test to ascertain their haemoglobin phenotype. On the other hand, 140 respondents (15.9%) have never done the test due to: lack of awareness (35/140, 25%); financial difficulties (53/140, 37.8%); religious reasons (35/140, 25%); discordant results (301/743, 40.5%) and not knowing where to go for the test (17/140, 12.1%). The distributions of the haemoglobin phenotypes were: HbAA (519/743, 69.9%); HbAS (196/743, 26.4%) and HbSS (28/743, 3.8%).
Over one-tenth (15.9%) of the study population do not know their haemoglobin phenotype status and their reasons for non-testing are varied. The population prevalence of SCD (3.8%) is higher than the previously reported national prevalence range of 1 - 3%. Addressing the identified barriers to non-testing might help in checking the increasing prevalence of SCD in Nigeria.
根据世界卫生组织的数据，全球约5%的人口携带异常血红蛋白基因，其中尼日利亚镰状细胞病（SCD）负担最重。应齐心协力降低SCD的患病率。
本研究旨在确定导致尼日利亚SCD患病率居高不下的各种因素。
2021年2月至2023年3月期间，在尼日利亚埃努古州对883名18岁及以上的受访者进行了一项基于社区的横断面调查。采用访谈式问卷获取相关社会人口学数据、SCD家族史、对自身血红蛋白表型的了解情况以及既往血红蛋白表型误诊信息。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）26.0版（伊利诺伊州芝加哥）进行数据分析。P值<0.05被认为具有统计学意义。
年龄中位数为43岁，范围在18 - 88岁之间。743人（743/883，81.1%）进行了检测以确定其血红蛋白表型。另一方面，140名受访者（15.9%）从未进行检测，原因如下：缺乏认知（35/140，25%）；经济困难（53/140，37.8%）；宗教原因（35/140，25%）；结果不一致（301/743，40.5%）以及不知道去哪里检测（17/140，12.1%）。血红蛋白表型分布为：HbAA（519/743，69.9%）；HbAS（196/743，26.4%）和HbSS（28/743，3.8%）。
超过十分之一（15.9%）的研究人群不知道自己的血红蛋白表型状态，他们不进行检测的原因多种多样。SCD的人群患病率（3.8%）高于先前报告的1 - 3%的全国患病率范围。解决已确定的不进行检测的障碍可能有助于遏制尼日利亚SCD患病率的上升。
