A Lancet paper calls India’s sickle cell disease stigma study a ‘robust tool’.

• India has the second-highest prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) globally, following sub-Saharan Africa.

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) developed India’s first ICMR-SCD Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI) following global standards.

• The ISSSI captures multidimensional aspects of stigma, including familial and reproductive, social disclosure, illness burden, interpersonal, and healthcare interaction challenges.

• The study was conducted across six SCD-endemic districts in India, each with unique demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

• SCD is a significant public health problem in many regions, impacting populations in several countries.

• The development of the ISSSI represents a significant advancement in understanding and addressing the multifaceted impact of SCD, including stigma.

• India has announced the national sickle cell anaemia elimination mission to eliminate SCD as a public health problem.