Dietary intakes and nutritional status of children with sickle cell disease at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Accra – a survey

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic genetic blood disorder common among people of African descent, which places nutritional burden among affected individuals. The aim of the study was to determine the dietary intake and nutritional status of children with SCD. METHOD: This was a cross sectional study that involved 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. Dietary data were obtained using 24-h dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for participants and their haemoglobin levels were determined to assess their anaemia status. RESULTS: Intakes of participants were below recommendations for most nutrients, particularly for calcium and antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C and E). Adequacy of nutrient intake declined with age and children with genotype HbSS had a lower tendency to meet dietary recommendations (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.10; p = 0.084). More than a third of the study children (38%) were malnourished, with older children having a tendency to be malnourished compared to the younger ones. Children with the SS genotype were more likely to be stunted (aOR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.10, 11.01), compared to other genotypes. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is prevalent among children with SCD and hence there is the need to develop comprehensive management coupling nutritional therapy to medical care to improve their nutritional status. 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.