Prevalence of thalassaemia trait in the state of West Bengal

From three districts namely, Burdwan, Midnapur (undivided) and 24-Parganas North of the state of West Bengal, a total of 2045 blood samples were drawn to test for the presence or absence of thalassaemia trait. Out of the total samples, 621 samples were from general population, 807 from focus group (Muslims and ST/SC), 370 from antenatal mothers and 247 from relatives of cases. The blood samples were first subjected to screening test ie, red cell indices and the presence of trait was confirmed by gel-electrophoresis of the samples positive in screening test. Results showed that thalassaemia trait is prevalent in the population of the state in the magnitude of 11.25%. It is mostly prevalent in close relatives of cases (thalassaemia major) in the magnitude of 55.26%, followed by scheduled tribe (29.87%) and among the Muslim population it was predominantly more. General population has a prevalence of 3.6% (males) and 5.95% in antenatal mothers. High prevalence rate is associated with illiterates (19.23%) than literates (5.55%). Highest prevalence rate ie, 20.47% (overall prevalence) is associated with age group between 0-9 years. The findings of the study are considered to be very valuable as far as future action programme is considered to reduce the prevalence rate of thalassaemia trait in the community. The action programmes like intensive counselling and IEC maybe instituted to the groups, which show high prevalence rate rather than general population to make the programme not only cost-effective but cost-efficient as well.