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Brown BJ, Madu A, Sangeda RZ, Nkya S, Peprah E, Paintsil V, Mmbando BP, Gyamfi J, Okocha CE, Asala SA, Nembaware V, Jonas M, Kengne AP, Chimusa ER, Nguweneza A, Isa HA, Nnebe-Agumadu U, Adekile AD, Osei-Akoto A, Ohene-Frempong K, Balandya E, Nnodu OE, Wonkam A. Utilization of Pneumococcal Vaccine and Penicillin Prophylaxis in Sickle Cell Disease in Three African Countries: Assessment among Healthcare Providers in SickleInAfrica. Hemoglobin 2021; 45:163-170. [PMID: 34355623 PMCID: PMC10022452 DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2021.1954943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disease with a predisposition to infections caused by encapsulated organisms, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal vaccines and prophylactic penicillin have reduced the rate of this infection and mortality in sickle cell disease. However, implementation of these interventions is limited in Africa. The objectives of the study were to assess health care providers' behaviors with the implementation of pneumococcal vaccination and penicillin prophylaxis and to identify barriers to their use. A 25-item online questionnaire was administered through SickleinAfrica: a network of researchers, and healthcare providers, in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania, working to improve health outcomes of sickle cell disease in Africa. Data was collected and managed using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), tools and data analysis was done using STATA version 13 and R statistical software. Eighty-two medical practitioners responded to the questionnaire. Only 54.0 and 48.7% of respondents indicated the availability of published guidelines on sickle cell disease management and pneumococcal vaccine use, respectively, at their facilities. The majority (54.0%) perceived that the vaccines are effective but over 20.0% were uncertain of their usefulness. All respondents from Ghana and Tanzania affirmed the availability of guidelines for penicillin prophylaxis in contrast to 44.1% in Nigeria. Eighty-five percent of respondents affirmed the need for penicillin prophylaxis but 15.0% had a contrary opinion for reasons including the rarity of isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in African studies, and therefore, the uncertainty of its benefit. Lack of published guidelines on the management of sickle cell disease and doubts about the necessity of prophylactic measures are potential barriers to the implementation of effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biobele J. Brown
- Department of Paediatrics, Haematology & Oncology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan & University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Anazoeze Madu
- Department of Haematology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Raphael Z. Sangeda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Siana Nkya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel Peprah
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vivian Paintsil
- Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bruno P. Mmbando
- Tanga Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Joyce Gyamfi
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chide E. Okocha
- Department of Haematology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
| | - Samuel A. Asala
- Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research & Training, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Victoria Nembaware
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mario Jonas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andre P. Kengne
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council & Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emile R. Chimusa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arthemon Nguweneza
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hezekiah A. Isa
- Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research & Training, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Uche Nnebe-Agumadu
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Adekunle D. Adekile
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Alex Osei-Akoto
- Department of Child Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Emmanuel Balandya
- Department of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Obiageli E. Nnodu
- Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research & Training, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - The SickleInAfrica Consortium
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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