Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children Aged 3-12 Years With Sickle Cell Disease

ABSTRACT

 Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic genetic blood disorder common among people of African descent. The disease places nutritional burden among affected individuals which affect their nutritional status. The aim of the study was to determine the dietary intake and nutritional status of children with sickle cell disease and determine the associations of severity of illness with dietary intake and nutritional status. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 120 children with SCD aged 3-12 years at the paediatric Outpatient Department of Princess Marie Louise Hospital (PML) in Accra. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to take information on participant‘s demographic characteristics, and clinical data were obtained from their medical records. Height and weight were measured for participants and their haemoglobin levels were determined to assess their anaemia status. Dietary data was obtained using a single 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Results: Nutrient intakes were low particularly for calcium and antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C and E) and this declined with increase in age. Malnutrition was recorded for 38% of the children with prevalence of stunting, underweight, thinness and wasting as 25.8%, 20.0%, 15.8% and 6.8% respectively. Having sickle cell anaemia  (SS) was significantly associated with stunting (OR 4.8, 95%CI, 1.4-16.1) but not underweight. Almost all the children (98.3%) were anaemic. There was no relationship between dietary intake, severity of illness and nutritional status among the study children. Conclusion: Nutrient intakes were generally below recommendations among the participants. There is the need to develop comprehensive management coupling nutritional therapy to medical care to improve the lives of children with SCD. Nutritional management should focus much on calcium-rich foods and antioxidants nutrients particularly vitamin C and E to reduce rapid erythrocyte haemolysis and chronic anaemia.