Status of Sickle Cell Disease Among Tharu Population In Banke District of Nepal

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is prevalent in malaria-endemic areas because the gene for sickle cell provides its carrier with resistance against malaria. In Nepal, malaria is prevalent in Terai, hence the susceptibility of SCD is high in this region. Being indigenous to the Terai, thousands of people in the Tharu communities of the Banke districting Nepal are believed to have suffered from sickle cell disease. The objective of this study was to find out the status of sickle cell disease among the Tharu population of Banke district, Nepal. A cross-sectional, experimental study was performed among systematically randomly selected 275 samples from 3 Village Development Committee (VDCs). All the samples were first screened for the presence of sickle hemoglobin using the sickle solubility test method in Bheri Zonal Hospital. Then all sickle solubility positive samples were further processed for alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis by using Interlab GenioS electrophoresis instrument. Out of a total 275 samples, 33 (12.0%) samples were confirmed as sickle solubility test positive. Among which, sickle cell trait was the most common disorder found grossing to 81.8%, followed by homozygous sickle cell disease; (15.2 %). One case (3.0%) of compound heterozygous sickle beta-thalassemia was also found.The Males were found to be more affected than females with ratio of 1.4:1.1. The highest frequency of SCD was found to be in 11-20 age groups comprising about 36.4%. Dangaura Tharu (51.5%) was the most common ethnic group with this disorder. The findings of this study indicate SCD is prevalent among the Tharu population in Banke district of Province-5, Nepal.