Abstract:

Previous study has assessed patient awareness about management of sickle cell disease (SCD) which indicates that there is a lack of awareness about the disease and possibly a need for more awareness. Therefore, our study aimed at Awareness & Knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was conducted from October 2018 to February 2019. A questionnaire was distributed among 154 persons selected from among the general public. Most (75.0%) had heard of SCD and 35.0% knew that it can be diagnosed by a blood test, but 33.3% did not know the prevalence of SCD in Nigeria. 50(41.7%) recognized it as a hereditary disorder. Professional/university students gave the most correct answers; Females showed better knowledge than males and married persons seems to know more about SCD than unmarried ones. There is a fair level of knowledge about SCD among the respondents, though some of the respondents were confused about the difference between the carrier state of a disease and the disease itself. Health education should be intensified to impact sufficient comprehensive knowledge about SCD to enable the public take informed decision about their marriage so as to prevent procreation of children affected with SCD.

Keywords: Awareness, Knowledge Sickle Cell Disease, Rivers State, Nigeria.

References:

[1]. Adewuyi, J., O. (2000): Knowledge of and attitudes to sickle cell disease and sickle carrier screening among new graduates of Nigerian tertiary educational institutions. Niger Postgrad Med J 7:120-3.

[2]. Boyd, J., H., Watkins, A., R., Price, C., L., Fleming, F., & DeBaun, M., R. (2005): Inadequate community knowledge about sickle cell disease among African-American women. Journal of National Medical Assocication; 97:62-7.

[3]. Durotoye, I., A., Salaudeen, A., G., Babatunde, A., S., Bosah, E., C., & Ajayi, F., D. (2013): Knowledge and Perception of Sickle cell disease among Senior Secondary School students in Illorin Metropolis. The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences; 20(2): 1-7.

[4]. Fleming, A., F., Storey, J., Molineaux, L., Iroko, E., A., & Attai, E., D. (1979): “Abnormal haemoglobins in the Sudan savanna of Nigeria. I. Prevalence of haemoglobins and relationships between sickle cell trait, malaria and survival,” Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 73(2) 161–172.

[5]. Horton, J., A., B. (1874): The Diseases of Tropical Climates and Their Treatment, Churchill, London.

[6].  http://www.afro.who.int/en/nigeria/nigeria-publications/1775-sickle cell disease.html.

[7]. Modell, B. & Darlison, M. (2008): “Global epidemiology of haemoglobin disorders and derived service              indicators,” Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 86(6): 480–487.

[8]. Nwogoh, B., Adewoyin, A., S., Iheanacho, O., E. & Bazuaye, G., N. (2012): “Prevalence of haemoglobin variants in Benin City, Nigeria,” Annals of Biomedical Sciences, 11(2):60–64.

[9]. Okwi A. L., Byarugaba W., Ndugwa C. M., Parkes A., Ocaido M., & Tumwine J. K. (2010): “An up-date on the prevalence of sickle cell trait in Eastern and Western Uganda,” BMC Blood Disorders, 10:5.

[10]. Piel, F., B., Patil A. P., & Howes, R., E. (2013): “Global epidemiology of Sickle haemoglobin in neonates: a contemporary geostatistical model-based map and                population estimates,” The Lancet, 381(9861)142–151.

[11]. Shaikha, A., A, & Amani, A., H. (2010): Public awareness of sickle cell disease in Bahrain; Ann Saudi Med; 30(4): 284-288.

[12]. Serjeant, G., R. (1997) “Sickle-cell disease,” The Lancet; 350(9079)725–730,

[13]. Uzoegwu, P., N., & Onwurah A. E. (2003): “Prevalence of haemoglobinopathy and malaria diseases in the population of old Aguata Division, Anambra State, Nigeria,” Biokemistri, 15(2)57–66.

[14]. WHO (2013): Regional office for Africa, Sickle cell disease prevention and control, World Health Organisation, (2008): “Management of haemoglobin disorders in Proceedings of the Report of Joint WHO-TIF Meeting, Nicosia, Cyprus.