The Interference of Socio-environmental and Urban Factors in the Health of People with Sickle Cell Disease, in Palmas /TO, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: This work aimed to raise the socioenvironmental and urban factors that can interfere in the severity of sickle cell disease of people living in the city of Palmas/TO. 

Materials and methods: People with sickle cell disease were located using active search and the snowball method. A sample of this population was interviewed to collect socio-environmental data, urban structure and clinical information, and blood was also collected to confirm the diagnosis of hemoglobins and to determine haplotypes.

Results: Twenty-nine people participated in the study, of which 59% had difficulties to study, 45% had difficulties to get a job or stay in it, 62% declared average level of comfort at home, and 55% lived in neighborhoods that are outside the municipality’s master plan. People with the disease, classified as having greater clinical severity, had HbSS genotype (66%) and had a low intermediate level of comfort, with the Bantu haplotype being the most frequent.

Conclusion: The socio-environmental and urban profile of people with sickle cell disease was characterized by low or intermediate level of comfort, associated with low per capita income. These factors are related to the lack of comfort and financial stability, which favors the worsening of the disease.