Ezenwosu OU, Itanyi IU, Nnodu OE, et al.
Haemoglobin genotype screening during antenatal care lets women learn their genotype and access education on sickle cell disease, but in settings with low antenatal attendance, community-based screening may offer similar opportunities. This study assessed the feasibility of integrating haemoglobin genotype screening into an existing community-based HIV program in Nigeria, in which community health advisors provided sickle cell disease education, collected blood samples for haemoglobin electrophoresis, and returned results to pregnant women and partners, alongside a survey of genotype awareness. Of 10,168 pregnant women, 99.9% completed screening and received results; 97.0% had been unaware of their genotype beforehand, and among those reporting an incorrect genotype, 41.1% believed themselves AA when actually AS. Awareness was higher among younger, more educated women with fewer pregnancies who attended antenatal care; overall sickle cell trait prevalence was 18.7%.
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