Factors Associated with Adherence to Medical Follow-Up among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Two Cities in the Southern Region of Cameroon

Background: Sickle cell disease affects over 7000 newborns annually in Cameroon, with poor adherence to medical follow-up contributing to high mortality rates. Objectives: Our main objective was to identify factors associated with regular medical follow-up among children with sickle cell disease in Southern Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted over 14 months (January 2024-February 2025) in two reference hospitals in Southern Cameroon. Data were extracted from the medical records of 43 children with sickle cell disease. Regular follow-up was defined as a consultation within 3 months of scheduled appointments. Results: Only 30.2% of patients had regular follow-up, with 69.8% losing follow-up. Therapeutic education was the strongest predictor of regular follow-up (OR = 23.10; 95% CI: 3.84 - 139.02; p = 0.001), followed by treatment adherence (OR = 27.00; p Conclusion: Therapeutic education emerges as the cornerstone of successful follow-up. Structured educational interventions, more frequent use of hydroxyurea, and comprehensive nutritional support could significantly improve outcomes for children with sickle cell disease in resource-limited settings.