| dc.description.abstract | The UN has recognized Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) as a global public health concern, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that 50% of member states should establish SCA control programs by 2020. Globally, SCA has its highest prevalence and worst prognosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 700,000 new cases of sickle-cell anemia occur annually in the world with 60%-80% dying before their 5111 year birthday. SCA patients often experience hospitalization events including admissions for pain and vaso-occlusive crisis, infections and blood transfusions. However, limited studies have evaluated these events to improve comprehensive care programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hospitalization events and determine the interaction of hospitalization events among sickle cell anemia patients at Homabay County Referral Hospital, Kenya. The specific objectives are to; determine the hospitalization events among sickle cell anemia patients, the factors associated with the hospitalization among SCA patients and the outcome of the interaction of hospitalization events among sickle cell anemia patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted on 227 SCA patients receiving healthcare between January 2016 to December 2016 at Homabay County Referral Hospital, Western Kenya. Data collection took 3 months from January 1 si, 2017 to March 31 si, 2017. Data was collected by reviewing patient's medical files. Complete enumeration sampling technique was used, and data was collected from hospital medical records. Quantitative data was presented using both descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies distribution, graphs, and charts) and inferential statistics ( chi¬square, OR, and regression) with the aid of ST AT A version 14. In total, 227 files were reviewed. According to the findings, a total of 167 (73 .57%) SCA patients were admitted to the hospital and Pain and Vasa-occlusive Crisis (PVC) at 64 (38.32%) and malaria infection 47 (28.14%) were the main reason for admission. SCA patients with malaria had 12.86% CI (5.36-30.85%; P value <0.0001) and 11.67% CI (5.27-25.82%; P value< 0.0001) increased admission and blood transfusions respectively. On the discharge, less than 20% were given drugs, suggesting unavailability of drugs at the hospital. In conclusion, PVC is the leading cause of hospitalization among SCA patients and malaria infection prolong the period of admission and increases blood transfusions. The study provides important information on the need of home-based care for PVC and enhance intervention of malaria infection among SCA patients and this can be explored as a package for comprehensive care and programmatic interventions. This study recommends that The National and County government through ministry of health should ensure constant supply of the Insecticide treated mosquito nets and that the CHY s during hospital admissions, to educate the caregivers on the need to ensure that the SCA patients regularly sleep under the treated bed nets, The National and County government through ministry of health should budget for drugs including folate and palludrine and ensure that these drugs through the healthcare providers are prescribed to the SCA patients during hospital admission, Policy makers including ministry of health, NGOs management board and other stakeholders should develop policies that will improve the wellbeing of the SCA patients. Such policies can include ensuring that there is SCA public days organized every month in every referral health facility in the counties and Anti-malaria prophylaxis is currently not being encouraged in the routine care of SCA patients. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment of malaria as recommended by WHO Roll Back Malaria programme should remain the standard practice till more evidence become available. | en_US |