Sickle cell disease occurs predominantly in
people of African descent and is also prevalent in
the Mediterranean, Asia, and South and Central
America (Sickle Cell Society, 2008; WHO, 2011).
In the UK there are approximately 150–250 babies
delivered per year to women with sickle cell disease
(United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System
(UKOSS), 2010), and between 2009 and 2010 361
babies were identified as having a significant
haemoglobinopathy (inherited disorder of red blood
cell haemoglobin) (National Health Service Sickle
Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme, 2011).