Preconception care and sickle cell anemia in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Background: Pregnancy in women with sickle cell anemia is associated with adverse outcome for mother and child; but with improvements in medical care; the outcome has greatly improved in developed countries. Despite being the most prevalent genetic disease in Africa; sickle-cell disease; along with its serious health problems in pregnancy; is largely neglected. Objective: To determine the effects of preconceptual care on pregnancy outcome among booked patients with homozygous sickle cell disease at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cohort study of the pregnancy outcome; among booked 39 pregnant women with homozygous sickle cell disease (Hbss); who had preconception care; and an equal number of booked pregnant women with homozygous sickle cell disease (Hbss); who did not have preconception care (controls); at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; between January 2000 and December 2006. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of complications between the two groups; but complications occurred with less frequency among the cases compared to the controls. Conclusion: This study suggest that preconception care and effective prenatal care by a multidisciplinary team; and delivery in a hospital which is accustomed to management of sickle cell disease and its complications; is associated with good pregnancy outcome in women with sickle cell anemia in pregnancy