Sickle Cell Diseases in Nilgiris District Tamil Nadu - A Micro Analysis

Abstract

Health is a basic fundamental right of all citizens and health promotion forms an intrinsic part of Health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” In recent years, this statement has been modified to include the ability to lead a “socially and economically productive life”. Preventive healthcare is an important of health since prevention means avoiding or slowing the course of a disease which is essential for a good quality of life. The health problems need special attention in the context of tribal communities of India. Available research studies point out that the tribal population has distinctive health problems which are mainly governed by their habitat, difficultterrains and ecologically variable niches. The health, nutrition and medico-genetic problems of diverse tribal groups have been found to be unique and present a formidable challenge for which appropriate solutions have to be found out by planning and evolving relevant research studies. Sickle cell anemia continues to be a global health problem that presents major challenges to our health care systems. The reviewed Sickle cell anemia literature indicates a much need for more public education and awareness on Sickle cell anemia in the India especially the tribal parts of the country. Sickle cell Anemia (SCA) and its variants are genetic disorders resulting from the presence of a mutated form of hemoglobin, hemoglobin S (HbS). The most common form of SCA is homozygous HbS disease (HbSS), an autosomal recessive disorder first described by Herrick in 1910. In 1952 Lehmann and Cutbush reported Hb-S in tribal population of Nilgiri in south India. Sickle Cell gene is mainly present amongst tribal group, from malaria endemic forest areas. According to one of the hypothesis, HbS is a natural mutation in Hemoglobin molecule to protect RBCs from malarial parasites by making them a little rigid, so that malarial parasites cannot enter into RBCs. Sickle shaped cells often get entangled resulting in blockage of the blood vessels leading to severe health complications. The present study is proposed to know about the prevalence, incidence treatment seeking behavior and economic burden of Sickle Cell Disease Affected Tribal’s in Nilgiris district.