A cross sectional study of growth of children with sickle cell disease, aged 2 to 5 years in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Growth of children affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) is not well described in Sub Saharan Africa despite the high prevalence of the disease. Few data are available in this context on that issue using World Health Organisation growth norms. We therefore conduct the present study with the aim of describe growth of affected children aged less than 5 years. We also assessed correlation of anthropometric parameters with disease severity criteria. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted during 8 months, at the Mother and child Center of Yaounde. The sample included 77 children with SCD aged 2 to 5 years, in steady state. Anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic data were collected and analyzed. All statistical tests were two-tailed with p = 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: median age of study population was 3.67 years. Low weight, height and weight for height Z-scores ( -2SD) were observed in 4%, 4%, 5% of children, respectively. Projection of these parameters was stackable on WHO curves. Regression analysis indicated an association of low height-for-age and of low BMI-for-age with age. CONCLUSION: this study demonstrates unexpectedly lower mean Z-score for weight, height and weight for height than reported while using WHO norms.

Keywords

• sickle cell disease
• growth
• who norms
• sub-saharan africa