Empirical Review of Methods of Neonatal Screening for Haemoglobin Variants in Nigeria

Abstract

Haemoglobin variants disorders accounts for the most common genetic disorders worldwide and the sub-Saharan African region carries the second largest health burden of it. Until recently, detection of other clinically significant haemoglobin variants other than Hb-S has not been available leading to missed or wrong diagnosis, porous national data and suboptimal control of haemoglobin disorders. Lack of national policy and inadequate methodological application is an obstacle to neonatal screening. Methodologies are available for detection and characterization of haemoglobin variants for neonates globally as recommended by World Health Organization as a fundamental step towards reducing pediatric mortality. Nigeria however, has no national neonatal screening program till date. This review seeks to show the methodologies for haemoglobin variant, with the aim of suggesting a prototype of methodology that could be used in Nigeria for neonatal haemoglobin variant screening. Several other work in and outside Nigeria
pertaining the above subject were reviewed objectively. The turn-around time, cost implications and diagnostic importance were considered. It was discovered that most methods are now available in Nigeria for haemoglobin variant characterization across the age groups without a guided prototype and with no special attention to the neonates. The child mortality rate that results from the clinical implications of haemoglobin variant in Nigeria is overwhelming. Federal government policies are needed in blue print to enable health care givers to systematically embark on neonatal screening. A guided prototype should be uniformly issued and followed
nationally for improved health care delivery.