WHO recommendations on the management of sickle-cell disease during pregnancy, childbirth and the interpregnancy period

22 July, 2025

Dear all,

Any reactions to the WHO recommendations on the management of sickle-cell disease during pregnancy, childbirth and the interpregnancy period [*see note below]

WHO recommendations on the management of sickle-cell disease during pregnancy, childbirth and the interpregnancy period

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a group of autosomal recessive haemoglobin disorders that results from a gene mutation in the β-subunit of haemoglobin.

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240109124

Esther Nakkazi

Freelance Science and technology Reporter I MediaTrainer

East Africa - UGANDA |+256772491950/ +256704292188

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The best gifts you can give are your time, your advice, your kindness and your faith in humanity.

HIFA profile: Esther Nakkazi is a freelance science and technology reporter, a blogger at estanakkazi.blogspot.com, a media trainer and the founder of Health Journalists Network in Uganda www.hejnu.ug . https://www.hifa.org/support/members/esther Follow her @Nakkazi nakkazie@yahoo.com

[*Note from HIFA moderator (NPW): Thank you Esther. This is a great idea to invite comments on WHO publications. I encourage others to do the same.

Below is an overview from the above URL:

Overview

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a group of autosomal recessive haemoglobin disorders that results from a gene mutation in the β-subunit of haemoglobin. It is a common inherited condition worldwide, affecting 7.74 million people. SCD is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, and causes a significant disease burden in other historically malaria-endemic regions of Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and South Asia. SCD also affects people in many other countries. Women who live with SCD are at higher risk for pregnancy complications.

The guideline will be useful to those directly providing care to women during pregnancy and when giving birth, such as obstetricians, midwives, nurses and general practitioners. This guideline will also be useful to health-care providers responsible for developing national and local health-care protocols and policies, as well as managers of maternal and child health programmes, and policy-makers in all settings. Finally, the information in this guideline will be useful for developing clinical tools for pre- and in-service training of health workers and health-system strengthening efforts to enhance their delivery of clinical care. ]