Estimated prevalence of sickle cell in northern Haiti.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sickle hemoglobin in northern Haiti. DESIGN Sickle cell testing occurred from 2002-2009. Blood samples from 1035 subjects were collected for diagnostic purposes, de-identified, and made available for the study. SETTING Bethesda Medical Center and Eben-Ezer Clinic in northern Haiti. SUBJECTS Study subjects included prenatal patients, their companions, clinic staff and volunteers. All subjects were Haitian and selected to most closely represent healthy patients present at the clinic. Deidentification of the blood samples precluded the need for informed consent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Each subject was tested for sickle hemoglobin using a standard hemoglobin solubility test and results were recorded as either positive or negative. RESULTS The estimated prevalence of sickle hemoglobin was 15.1% with a 95% confidence interval of 12.2-18%. CONCLUSIONS These prevalence rates validate the clinical significance of sickle cell disorder, help guide clinical decisions, and suggest the need to develop intervention programs among the people of northern Haiti.