Depression and cognitive deficits in Ugandan children with sickle cell anaemia

Abstract

Introduction: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a public health problem in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa. The study determined the prevalence of depression in children with SCA and the effects of SCA on cognition in children. Methodology: This was a case control study among 78 children with SCA and 78 controls) between 7 to 12 years of age. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for children, second edition was used to measure cognitive abilities of children while the Child Depression Inventory a symptom-oriented instrument was used to assess depression in children. The prevalence of depression in children with SCA was determined as the percentage with its 95% confidence interval. The effects of SCA on cognition in children were examined using a two-sample t-test between cognitive test scores of the cases and controls. Results: A total of 156 participants were enrolled in the study, majority (53.9%) of the study participants were female. Mean age of the cases was 9 years (SD=1.51) and 7 years (SD=1.95) for the controls. Mean haemoglobin was 7.27 ± 1.08 g/dl and prior stroke was detected among 3 cases (2.34%). The prevalence of depression among SCA children was 68.5%. The children with SCA scored lower compared to the controls on Mental Processing Index, Sequential processing, Simultaneous processing, Learning, Planning, and Knowledge scales of the KABC-II (all p<0.05). Conclusion: SCA is associated with depression and cognitive deficits in Uganda children. The multidisciplinary approach of disease modifying interventions to prevent or reduce cognitive deficits and depression in children with SCA is needed.