Screening of Newborn with Sickle Cell Disease in the View of Resource-Limited Setting

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hemoglobinopathy and has its highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. It has contributed significantly to the morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years. In developed countries, newborn screening (NBS) followed by comprehensive care and community involvement have reduced SCD-related deaths by 10-fold. The life expectancy of SCD patients has also improved. Current practices in most resource-limited settings are mainly based on diagnosing symptomatic children upon presentation to health facilities. However, some countries in these settings have started introducing NBS. The common screening methods being used include high-performance liquid chromatography and isoelectric focusing. Despite some progress made in NBS, there have been some challenges. Some of these include the cost of screening, lack of qualified personnel, and the turnaround time for the results. In order to improve the care of children with SCD in resource-limited settings, there is a need to move toward point-of-care testing.