Mfugale Zipola2024-03-272024-03-272023Mfugale, Z. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell disease attending the sickle cell clinic at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital, (Master's Dissertation). The University of Dodoma.https://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4417Dissertation (Msc Medicine)Background: Cholelithiasis also known as Gallstones are a common consequence of chronic hemolysis in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and its variants. In our settings majority of children comes with cholecystitis which is one of the complication of cholelithiasis, but the real burden of cholelithiasis is not well. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cholelithiasis and associated factors in children with SCD in Dodoma. Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study of 180 children aged 2 to 17years, from January 2023 to June 2023 (a period of 6 months) at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire. Cholelithiasis was defined as curvilinear echogenic structures casting acoustic shadow in the liver which moved with a change in scan position by using a Phillips HD3 general purpose ultrasound scanner. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25 and statistical significance was assumed for factors with p-value<0.05. Results: A total of 180 children were enrolled. Most of the enrolled children were males 112(62.22%). The mean age was 6.89±3.8 years ranging from 2 to 17 years. The prevalence of cholelithiasis was 12.22% (22 children) and age range between 10-17 years (AOR=6.831, CI [1.360, 34.326], p-value =0.0197), female sex AOR= 9.471, CI [2.271, 39. 507], p-value =0.0197), blood transfusion more than once in the past one year (AOR=5.959, CI [1.689, 21.023], p-value 0.0055), family history of gallstones (AOR=15.244, CI [1.565, 148.487], p-value 0.0190) and hepatomegaly (AOR=16.778, CI [3.140,89.655],p-value 0.0010) were factors independently associated with Cholelithiasis. Conclusion: Cholelithiasis is a common complication warranting regular screening among children with SCD attending clinic in Dodoma. Female sex, children aged between 10-17 years, blood transfusion more than once in a year, those with family history of gallstones and presence of hepatomegaly were more likely to have cholelithiasischolelithiasissickle cell diseasesickle cell clinicDodoma Regional Referral Hospital