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research-article |
Genetic Counselling in Sickle Cell Disease Ibadan (Nigeria) Experience
Department of Paediatrics and Medical Social Department, University College Hospital Ibadan
Sickle cell disease in Nigeria with a frequency of 3% is a major public health problem with no specific treatment. A three and a half year follow up of 45 families with at least one affected child from Ibadan community was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of counselling both general and genetic when this was sought by a parent. Most sought advice because of problems concerning their affected child, his management, education and future prospect in marriage. Fear of recurrence and marital problems caused by the child's condition were also reasons. Following genetic counselling, one third practised birth control and thus limited their family size; but almost half carried on as before. In one fifth the marriage ended in separation, divorce or the husband taking another wife, during the course of the study. One affected child with one or two normal healthy siblings, long crisis-free periods in the affected child, education and a stable marriage were factors tending to lead to parents taking responsible decisions on the basis of information given. More than one affected child, no surviving normal children, polygamy and a non-caring husband brought out the opposite result. While it may be too soon for population counselling in Nigeria, individual families given genetic counselling can benefit greatly to the ultimate good of the population at large.