Description
Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), caused by a homozygous β-globin gene mutation, leads to chronic anemia, vaso-occlusive crises, and high morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Taveta Sub-County, Kenya, bears a significant SCD burden, but local data on epidemiology and healthcare gaps remain scarce. This study assesses SCD prevalence, care barriers, and community interventions in Taveta.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach analyzed hospital records (quantitative) and interviews with providers, patients, and caregivers (qualitative). Data included prevalence, complications, treatment outcomes, and systemic challenges like stigma and medication access.
Results: SCD accounts for 2–7% of pediatric admissions at Taveta Sub-County Hospital, with vaso-occlusive crises, anemia, and infections as top complications. Of 86 patients under care, 21 were under five, 39 aged 5–18, and 26 adults. Newborn screening (Jan–Jul 2025) identified 8 SS infants, 21 AS carriers, and 374 AA. Barriers included poverty, hydroxyurea stockouts, stigma, and delayed care-seeking, worsening outcomes. Despite challenges, management adheres to national guidelines (hydroxyurea, antibiotics, pain control). Interventions like the SCD-Hemophilia clinic, newborn screening, community advocacy (ASCO), and health worker training improved awareness and care.
Conclusion: Tackling SCD in Taveta requires scaling newborn/high-risk screening, affordable hydroxyurea access, and sustained health worker training. Combating stigma and integrating SCD into county health plans are vital. Pediatric-adult service integration, diagnostic expansion, and community awareness—aligned with WHO point-of-care testing goals—can enhance early diagnosis and management.
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Pediatric Admissions, Hydroxyurea, Newborn Screening, Stigma, Community Interventions.
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Government of Kenya |
| Position | Clinician |
| Received a Grant? | No |
