We go into relationships (for the sake of
this discussion, we are referring to the Man-Woman kind of relationship. We
have same sex relationships, and I respect their decision) most times, without
sitting down to consider some basic things like the health of
our unborn children
(for those who want to have children).
I came across something recently:
Sickle
cell anemia affects millions throughout the world. It is particularly common
among people whose ancestors come from Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Cuba,
Central America, Saudi Arabia, India, and Mediterranean countries such as
Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In the Unites States, it affects around 72,000
people, most of whose ancestors come from Africa. The disease occurs in about 1
in every 500 African-American births and 1 in every 1000 to 1400
Hispanic-American births. About 2 million Americans, or 1 in 12 African
Americans, carry the sickle cell allele (http://www.who.int/genomics/public/geneticdiseases/en/index2.html).
Why do we still have such a high prevalence
for a preventable genetic condition? May be some people do this ignorantly?
Perhaps they do not know? Well for those who do not know, after reading, i
trust you will make the right decision.
What is sickle cell anaemia (you might come
across ‘sickle cell disease’, but unless you are in the medical profession, do
not trouble yourself)?
Sickle cell anaemia is simply a genetic
disorder (this means you can only get it from your parents-in this case, both must contribute) that causes your bone marrow (‘blood making machine’) to start
making abnormal red blood cells. These cells cannot carry oxygen effectively;
in fact, they can change shape and block the blood vessels, causing damage to
any part of the body that blood vessel supplies. That is the simplest way i can
describe the disease.
Most children eventually die (the so called ‘Abikus’
and ‘Ogbanjes’ in Yoruba and igbo speaking tribes of Nigeria respectively).
How is sickle cell anaemia inherited? If two
persons with normal haemoglobins (AA) have a child, there is zero chance for the child to have sickle
cell disease. If a parent has sickle-cell anaemia (SS) and the other has
sickle-cell trait (AS), then the child has a 50% chance of having sickle-cell
disease (SS), and a 50% chance of having sickle-cell trait. When both parents
have sickle-cell trait (AS), a child has a 25% chance of sickle-cell disease,
25% do not carry any sickle-cell alleles, and 50% have the heterozygous
condition. This probability is ‘per child’, not ‘4 children’. ‘Child bearing
unions’ (i don’t want to use the word ‘marriage’ because you may not be
married) between AS &AS or AS & SS are not encouraged, you might bring
a ‘sickler’ into the world. If you have seen one before, i don’t think you will
want to ‘create’ one.
Sickle cell
disease can only be prevented effectively by genetic counseling and choices of
a partner with whom to produce children. Therefore it is important for people
of reproductive age group to understand the genetics of sickle cell disease,
know their genotype and if they carry the S gene, choose in advance a partner
that will be appropriate for them (a partner without the S gene).
Prevention of
the disease through public education, awareness of one's carrier status and
genetic counseling regarding reproductive choices is certainly a better ethical
and economic option than prevention through prenatal diagnosis (PND-this means
checking the genotype of your baby before birth) and selective abortion of
affected fetuses.
Therefore it goes without saying that the key to prevention of sickle cell disease
lies on genetic counseling. It must be emphasized that this disease is
preventable. How will individuals present themselves for counseling if they do
not know about the existence of this disease?
What should
you do now?
·
Know your genotype.
·
Know your partners
genotype (if you consider him/her a partner you will likely make babies with).
·
That is all. No sickle
cell.
However, for
people who want to go ahead with their relationships, you can choose between
adopting a child or terminating each pregnancy till you child a child that is
not SS.
They are very
hard decisions; choose wisely however, FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR UNBORN CHILD.
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