Haemoglobin Electrophoresis Patterns and Genotype Distribution Among Secondary School Students in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria

This study determines haemoglobin genotype distribution and electrophoresis patterns among secondary school students in Owerri, Imo State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. Pre-marital and pre-conception awareness of haemoglobin genotype is critical for the prevention of sickle cell disease, and population-level genotype data from adolescents provide a basis for targeted counselling interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 350 students aged 12 to 18 years from four government secondary schools in Owerri Municipal Council. Haemoglobin electrophoresis was performed using cellulose acetate electrophoresis at alkaline pH. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing prior knowledge of their genotype and attitude toward genotype screening. Results revealed that 52.6 percent were HbAA, 24.3 percent were HbAS, 2.6 percent were HbSS, and 4.3 percent were HbAC, with the remainder showing HbSC or other variants. Only 38 percent of students were aware of their genotype prior to the study. Knowledge of sickle cell disease was limited, particularly among junior secondary school students. The high HbAS carrier frequency (24.3%) in this population suggests a substantial risk of HbSS births in the absence of pre-conception counselling. The study recommends mandatory haemoglobin genotype screening at school entry, integration of sickle cell education into secondary school health curricula, and referral pathways to genetic counselling for carrier adolescents. Keywords: haemoglobin electrophoresis, genotype, sickle cell, secondary school, Owerri.