Prevalence of thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia carriers among antenatal women– A first study from Telangana population

Abstract

Beta thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are highly prevalent and inherited preventable blood disorders that require lifelong blood transfusions and contribute to infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. It is mandate to prevent these disorders to save the children from life long suffering by initiating stringent screening programs. A total of 2478 antenatal women visiting Modern Govt. Maternity hospital (MGMH), Petlaburz, Hyderabad (2000) and Primary Health Care centers of Balanagar (254) and Rajapur (224) in Mahbubnagar district were screened for thalassemia and SCA using Complete blood count followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography to detect the carrier status. Husbands were screened in case of carrier women and if both the couple were carriers then they were advised for prenatal diagnosis. Out of the 2478 antenatal mothers screened, a carrier frequency of 3.05% and 4.6% was detected for different types of hemoglobinopathies from MGMH and PHC’s respectively. Of the different types of thalassemia, beta thalassemia was the predominant one with a frequency of 2.15% from MGMH and 2.9% from PHC’s. Three couples were found to be thalassemia carriers and went for prenatal diagnosis. In all the three cases the fetus was found to be normal and they are continuing with the pregnancy. The present study is the first one to report the carrier frequency of thalassemia and SCA among antenatal women from Telangana population. This study warrants the need for screening antenatal women for these disorders during their early trimester in order to reduce the incidence of affected births.