Academic Proficiency in Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neuroscience
• Genetics

Background:

• Academic proficiency is vital for educational and economic success.
• Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in sub-Saharan Africa may face learning challenges.
• Limited research exists on academic performance in school-aged children with SCA in this region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare academic proficiency in Ugandan children with SCA versus unaffected controls.
• To identify specific areas of academic difficulty for children with SCA.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study in Kampala, Uganda.
• Included school-going children aged 6-12 years with SCA and age-matched controls.
• Academic proficiency assessed using the Wide Range Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WRAT4).

Main Results:

• Children with SCA scored significantly lower in mathematical computation compared to controls (p = 0.0012).
• Spelling proficiency declined with age in the SCA group.
• No significant group differences were found in spelling, word reading, or sentence comprehension.

Conclusions:

• School-aged children with SCA are at risk for impaired academic proficiency, especially in mathematics.
• Children with SCA in Uganda require educational evaluation and support.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support learning in children with SCA.