Prevalence of sickle cell disease in tribal adolescents of the South Gujarat region, India

Objectives: to create awareness, to screen samples of school adolescents and then to reach their community through them by doing surveillance for sickle cell diseaseSettings & Design: School adolescents studying in St Xavier`s high school and Vanraj high school of Umarpada taluka of Surat district were included in the field based cross-sectional studyMethod: After taking permission from school authority, pre-test (n=881) and post-test (n=743) evaluation was done to asses their knowledge regarding SCD. Blood samples of 948 school adolescents were taken for DTT test and then for electrophoresis. Blood samples of motivated parents and friends of those adolescents found positive for DTT was taken in subsequent visit and results were communicated to them.Results: Out of 1081 adolescents, various aspects of sickle cell disease were assessed among 881 during pre-test and among 743 during post-test evaluation. Blood samples of 948 school adolescents were tested for DTT test. Prevalence of sickle cell disease was found 25.5%. Electrophoresis was done in 242 adolescents who found positive for DTT test, of which 92% found having sickle cell trait and 8% having sickle cell disease. Then electrophoresis done among 64 parents and friends and 24 (37.5%) found positive of which 14 (58%) having sickle cell trait and 10 (42%) having sickle cell disease.