Sickle Cell Disease Child Mortality - A Silent Epidemic in Nigeria: Issues in Political Economy

This article examines the high morbidity rates in children living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria through the lens of political economy.

In Nigeria, 150,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease annually. Child mortality among children living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria becomes important due to the high number of children born with this disease and due to the high morbidity associated with the disease. Using the political economy perspective, this mini review paper examined the child mortality levels associated with sickle cell disease in Nigeria and the causes of this mortality. Relevant literature was reviewed through Pub-med and Google search engines. A very high sickle cell child mortality level was indicated. Also, chronic pain, stroke, hypertension and bacteria infection were the major causes of morbidity among children with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. The paper concludes that sickle cell child mortality in Nigeria is high and the causes of these deaths can be prevented but problems associated with the political economy of Nigeria continues to militate against achieving improved survival rate for children with sickle cell disease.