Demographic and Geographic Distribution of Sickle Cell Disease in Gondia District of Central India; A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease is prevalent in central India. Gondia district is located in the Vidarbh region of Maharashtra of central India. Objective of this study is to find the geographic (block level and primary health center level) and demographic (age, sex, caste, sub-caste) distribution of sickle cell carriers and cases which presented to the hospitals for last 10 years. Methods : All the symptomatic patients visiting five hospitals of Gondia were tested by solubility test. Those found positive in solubility test were tested by hemoglobin electrophoresis. Results were categorized into sickle cell carriers/traits (AS pattern) and sickle cell cases (SS pattern). RESULTS: Total 1318567 patients were tested by solubility test and 18152 were found positive. These underwent hemoglobin electrophoresis and revealed 11209 carriers/traits and 1088 cases. More females were carriers and more males were cases. Most of the patients presented were between 11-20 years of age. Unmarried cases were significantly higher than unmarried carriers. With around 20% of disease burden, Gondia block have highest number of patients. Schedule casts have highest number of patients followed by other backward classes and schedule tribes. Conclusion: Maximum number of sickle cell patients was from Gondia block followed by Arjuni Morgaon and Sadak Arjuni block. Sickle cell disease is most prevalent in Mahar sub-caste of SC, Gond, Halbi sub-caste of ST and Kunbi, Mali, Teli, Kalar sub-caste of OBC. Public health authorities need to focus more in these blocks and sub-castes to promote awareness and improve quality of life