ISSN : 2663-2187

Pattern of hemoglobinopathies among Tharu population in and around Dhangadhi, Nepal

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Umesh Prasad Gupta, Indrani Jadhav, Rajendra Kumar BC, Kapilesh Jadhav
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.14.2024.6367-6381

Abstract

Hemoglobinopathies affect approximately 7% of the worldwide population and are a significant public health concern. This study, focusing on the Tharu community in Nepal, aims to assess the prevalence and patterns of hemoglobinopathies, utilizing High Performance Liquid Chromatography. This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Seti Zonal Hospital in Dhangadhi, Nepal, involved 369 individuals from the Tharu community. Blood samples were collected during a health camp in September 2019, with written consent obtained from participants. Sixty-six individuals were found to have hemoglobinopathies, with a prevalence of 17.9%. Sickle Cell Trait and Beta Thalassemia Trait were the most common variants, with 33 cases (8.9%) and 26 cases (7.0%), respectively. The study also revealed variations in hemoglobinopathy prevalence by gender, caste, and age range, with different chromatographic patterns observed for each hemoglobinopathy subtype. Findings of this study highlights the importance of significant prevalence of hemoglobinopathies, particularly Sickle Cell Trait and Beta Thalassemia Trait, within the Tharu community in and around the Dhangadhi, Nepal.

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