The Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency in Students of Sultan Abdurrahaman School of Health Technology Gwadabawa, Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the deficiency of Glucose-6-phosphate 10 dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity among students of Sultan Abdurrahaman School of Health Technology Gwadabawa, Sokoto State.

Methodology: A total of 164 subjects comprised of 82 (50%) males and 82 (50%) females were recruited for this study. Randox G6PD qualitative in vitro test screening was used for the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency.

Results: Of the 164 subjects tested, 144 (87.8%) were normal while 20(12.2%) were G6PD-deficient.Out of the 82 male subjects studied, 64 (78%) were normal while 18 (22%) were G6PD deficient compared to 80 (97.6%) and 2 (2.4%) females subjects who were normal and deficient for G6PD respectively. There was a significant difference between gender (p<0.01) using chi-square.

Conclusions: The Prevalence of G6PD deficiency was concentrated predominantly among male subjects (22%). There is a need for the routine screening of subjects on a much wider scale for G6PD deficiency in our environment, especially in malaria endemic areas, where quinine and its derivatives be used. This would allow for evidence-based management of subjects with G6PD deficiency and also educate them so as to avoid food, drugs, and other agents that can potentially predispose them to hemolytic crisis or oxidative stress.