A Brief Review of Sickle-Cell Haemoglobin, β-Thalassaemia and G-6-PD Deficiency Genes among Tribals of Scheduled Area of Rajasthan, India: Focus on Tribal Health

Abstract

Rajasthan, situated at the north-western part of India is the biggest state in the country of India and has total of 33 districts. By merging eight tribal dominating districts namely, Banswara, Chittourgarh, Dungarpur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajasamand, Sirohi, and Udaipur of these, the government has created a special area called the ‘schedule area” in which >70% of the people are tribal. This area is mostly backward and underdeveloped where malaria is also hyperendemic. In this area, Bhil, Damor, Meena, Garasiya, Kathudia and Sahariya are the most dominating and major endogamous tribes. Besides the several communicable and non-communicable diseases in this area, certain erythrocyte genetic disorders, Sickle-Cell Haemoglobin (Hb-S), β-thalassaemia and G-6-PD deficiency (Gd) are also deteriorating the tribal health and causing morbidity and mortality in them. Genes of these red cell genetic disorders are more prevalent and widely distributed among tribal people. The maximum prevalence of these blood genetic disorders in tribes was found as 31.14%, 9.00% and 22.00%, respectively. Since the groundwater of this tribal area contains a high amount of Fluoride (F), drinking it poses a high risk of premature death of tribal people who already have homozygous state of sickle-cell and β-thalassaemic genes. In present communication, besides the focus on tribal health, the status of genes of sickle-cell haemoglobin, β-thalassaemia and G-6-PD deficiency in different tribal ethnic groups of scheduled area, the correlation of these blood genetic disorders with malaria, impact of F intoxication in tribal subjects possessing red cell genetic disorders and the prevention and control of these erythrocyte genetic disorders in tribal people have been critically reviewed. The results of this review are significant and advantageous in making and execution of prevention and control programme of these blood genetic disorders in tribals of scheduled area of Rajasthan, India. Moreover, in this review, research gaps are also highlighted for further research work.