Frequency of the sickle haemoglobin gene in Zimbabwe.

The sickle haemoglobin gene (Bs gene) frequency in Zimbabwe was determined by haemoglobin electrophoresis of cord blood samples in a discontinuous alkaline buffer system on cellulose acetate strips. Samples were collected from different regions of the country including malaria-endemic and malaria-free areas and, predominantly Shona and Ndebele speaking areas respectively. 868 samples were analysed and the Bs gene frequency at birth was found to be 0.012. This value was lower than expected probably due to the peculiar topography of Zimbabwe. There was no significant difference in haemoglobin genotype distribution between malarious and non-malarious areas and between ethnic regions. The only exception was for haemoglobin Barts of which there seemed to be an excess in an area of predominantly Ndebele-speaking people.