Prevalence of sickle cell haemoglobinopathy and pregnancy outcome in Dar es salaam.

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is one of` the commonest diseases of inheritance with serious complications

among pregnant wornen and tlleir infants. As compared to other races, Africans are more affected

and it is thought that about 00,000 children are annually born with the disease worldwide majority

being in sub-Saharan Alrici1, It has been reported that the survival of majority of patients with

sickle cell disease in Alric1 is not higher than 5 years old. Long term research programmes in

America and Jamllc1 hI\ ` c shown that simple interventions such as comprehensive care

programmes, early detectio ~ and treatment of acute events as well as more complex approaches

such as blood transfusion alld hydroxyurea therapy have a direct impact on clinical course, quality

of life and survival. Despite all advances, there has been a limited comparable studies of SCD in

Africa.

Objective..

To determine the prevalence of sickle cell haemoglobinopathies among pregnant women and