PRENATAL OR NEWBORN SCREENING FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE: WHICH APPROACHES GENERATE GREATER PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS? A COMPARATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This comparative review summarizes evidence on prenatal and newborn screening for sickle cell disease, focusing on clinical, programmatic, and economic outcomes. Searches covered PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar (1999–2025), including original studies, guidelines, and program evaluations. Newborn screening reduces mortality and infections by enabling early diagnosis, penicillin prophylaxis, and immunizations. Prenatal screening identifies at‑risk couples earlier, enabling timely genetic counseling and informed reproductive planning. As public health strategies, both models are complementary: sustaining universal newborn screening while expanding prenatal screening in higher‑prevalence settings can maximize outcomes and system efficiency