Knowledge, perception and practices towards sickle cell disease: a community survey among adults in Lubaga division, Kampala Uganda (original) (raw)
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East African Medical Journal, 2010
Background: The management of sickle cell disease (SCD) has remained insurmountable in developing countries such as Uganda, because most communities are not aware of it. Objective: To determine knowledge gaps, attitudes and beliefs of the communities about sickle cell disease in Eastern and Western Uganda. Design: Cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: The districts of Sironko and Mbale in Eastern Uganda and Mbarara and Ntungamo in Western Uganda. Subjects: Households, students and health workers. Results: Household respondents from Eastern Uganda were more aware of SCD than those from Western (p<0.001), with the majority reporting that they had seen more people with SCD in their communities than those from the West (p<0.001). Fewer (<1.9%) believed SCD was due to witch craft. Eight per cent of household respondents in Eastern believed it was a curse from God compared to 2% in the West. Less than 18% of the household respondents knew they could have children with SCD and (<52%) of health workers knew SCD screening methods. Fewer (<14%) of the health workers had participated in screening. Less than 20% of the respondents knew their sickle cell status. Conclusion: Respondents from Eastern Uganda were more aware of SCD than those from Western. Minority of the respondents knew their SCD status and few health staff knew how to screen it. There is need to sensitise communities and policy makers about prevention, screening and treatment of SCD.
European Journal of Health Sciences, 2022
Background: Haemoglobin disorders such as Sickle cell disease (SCD) have been acknowledged to be of great public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006. To reduce the tremendous public health and economic burden SCD exerts on many countries, the WHO is urging countries, especially those in Africa, to increase public awareness of the disease. Such awareness programmes among the young unmarried population will go a long way to prevent the birth of children with this painful genetic condition. Purpose: This study therefore sought to assess the level of knowledge, attitude to people living with SCD, and perception of SCD among undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 400 participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, version 25. Results: Almost all the...
BMC Research Notes, 2023
Objective To explore the knowledge and attitude towards sickle cell disease (SCD) among care givers of paediatric sickle cell patients at Mbale regional referral hospital in Eastern Uganda. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted at Mbale regional referral hospital. We used simple random sampling technique to recruit participants from among the care givers of pediatric sickle cell patients admitted at the hospital, administered questionnaires and conducted multivariable logistic regression to establish the association between the different factors. Results 372 respondents participated in the study, 82.26% of which were female. 57.80% of the respondents had ever heard of SCD/SCA. 36.02% were willing to stay in a relationship with their partner despite the risk of having a child with SCD/SCA. A multivariate analysis revealed that variables; "number of children", "children with sickle cell can cope with life" and "willing to stay in a relationship despite the risk of a having a child with sickle cell" were statistically significant. Conclusion There was a high level of general awareness about SCD/SCA but comprehensive knowledge about its cause and prevention was low and the majority did not find a reason as to why it should influence their marital decisions. Inclusion of SCD/SCA in existing health education programs is highly recommended.
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2022
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major health concern in Ghana, but little has been carried out to evaluate its clinical characteristics. This study therefore assessed knowledge of SCD in Kumasi, Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 405 individuals randomly selected from the metropolis using the quota sampling technique to ascertain knowledge of SCD, sickling status, disease complications, and choice of drug management. The results showed that 65.4% of the respondents knew that SCD is genetic in origin, but 65.1% had no idea what sickle cell crisis was. Educational level influenced the knowledge of the cause of SCD ( p ≤ 0.001), but gender, age, employment, and marital status had no significant correlation ( p > 0.05). Most (67.5%) of the participants had no idea of their sickling status, with individuals aged 18–30 years (i.e., 69.3%) being the majority. Education ( p ≤ 0.001) and age ( p ≤ 0.001) did not influence knowledge of sickling status. Many (56.9%...
Awareness and Knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease in Rivers State, Nigeria
Texila International Journal of Nursing, 2019
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.
Knowledge and attitude of secondary school students in Jos, Nigeria on sickle cell disease
Pan African Medical Journal, 2013
Introduction: Knowledge about sickle cell disease among youths could constitute an important variable that influences their premarital attitude and behaviour. The study is to determine the knowledge and attitude on Sickle Cell Disease among selected secondary school students in Jos metropolis, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study involving 137 Secondary School Students within Jos metropolis selected by a multistage stratified sampling technique, using self administered structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 137 students were interviewed, Christians 88%, modal age range 15-20 years (72%) and males (51%). Majority (83.2%) of the respondents were aware of SCDs, as an inherited disorder (80.0%), affecting the red blood cells (83.0%) but only half (54%) knew that the disease can only be diagnosed through blood test. Also, only 59% knew their genotype and 11. 1% claimed AS genotype. More than one fourth (25.5%) had wrong belief that SCD is caused by evil spirit while 76% showed wrong attitude involving stigmatization towards individuals with sickle cell disease. Conclusion: Comprehensive knowledge about SCD was found to be low despite good awareness among respondents, but only few knew their haemoglobin genotype. If sickle cell disease control strategies must yield any significant results, there is a need to raise awareness about SCD, especially among students in secondary institutions in Nigeria is recommended.
Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitude towards Sickle Cell Disease among University Students
Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education, 2018
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders among the African descent. SCD is associated with intermittent excruciating pain, increased morbidity and mortality yet has received less recognition in the public domain. There is growing evidence on the need to increase awareness to reduce the disease incidence. This study aimed to elicit student's knowledge, beliefs and attitude of SCD. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 380 university students at all levels were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 350 successfully completed the study (response rate, 92.10%). A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information on participant's demographic characteristics, general knowledge of SCD, beliefs and attitudes of students towards SCD. Results: Almost all the students were aware of SCD (98.6%) with the main source of information being school (84.6%) and the media (12.6%). Knowledge level of respondents on SCD based on scores revealed a mean score of 9.8 ± 4.2 with 45.1%, 47.8%, and 7.1% for poor, moderate and excellent respectively. Most of the respondents strongly agreed that they feel worried (52.9%) and sympathetic (51.4%) for people affected with SCD. Participants had the belief that it is an inherited disease acquired from parents (48.3%) but not a punishment from God (76.3%). Higher level of education and knowing a relative with sickle cell trait (SCT) or SCD was significantly associated with high knowledge of SCD (p<0.05). Conclusion: In general, there was a limited understanding and inadequate knowledge of SCD among the students particularly on the pattern of inheritance. Results from the study highlight the need for effective public health education on SCT/SCD in trusted sources such as schools, media (radio/Television), health centers and churches. This is necessary to address misconceptions and increase knowledge level as well as understanding of the risks of having a child with SCD to influence personal reproductive options.
PLOS ONE, 2024
Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most frequent and traumatizing genetic disease in Uganda, with the prevalence of the sickle cell trait (SCT) estimated at 13.3% leading to serious psycho-social and economic impact on the patients and their families. Aim This study aimed to determine the burden of SCT and factors influencing the uptake of screening services among secondary school students in Uganda. Methods We used an analytical cross-sectional design with a multi-stage sampling approach. A total of 399 students from four secondary schools in Kampala City were enrolled in this study. Data were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires and blood screening. We used the sickling test to determine the presence of sickle cell alleles among the participants and hemoglobin electrophoresis as a confirmatory test. Data gathered using the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results In total, 5.8% of participants who were tested during this study had SCT. Most (80.2%) participants were not in an intimate relationship at the time of data collection. The majority (60.4%) had moderate knowledge about SCT screening and obtained information about screening from the school. Only 29 (7.3%) participants knew of a family member with sickle cell. Overall, participants had a negative attitude toward SCT screening (67%), although 41.6% believed that most people who were sickle cell carriers did not live long and were
Wellcome Open Research
Background: In Uganda to date, there are neither established registries nor descriptions of facility-based sickle cell disease (SCD) patient characteristics beyond the central region. Here, we summarize data on the baseline clinical characteristics and routine care available to patients at four clinics in Eastern Uganda as a prelude to a clinical trial. Methods: Between February and August 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients attending four SCD clinics in Mbale, Soroti, Atutur and Ngora, all in Eastern Uganda, the planned sites for an upcoming clinical trial (H-PRIME: ISRCTN15724013). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, diagnostic methods, clinic schedules, the use of prophylactic and therapeutic drugs, clinical complications and patient understanding of SCD were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: Data were collected on 1829 patients. Their ages ranged from 0 to 64 years with a median (IQR) of 6 (3-11) years. 49.1% of participants were mal...
The Pan African Medical Journal, 2021
Introduction sickle cell disease is one of the greatest public health problems of this age. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and control practices on sickle cell disease (SCD) among selected secondary school students in Osun State, Nigeria. Methods a descriptive cross-sectional study involved 420 secondary school students within Osogbo Metropolis selected by a multistage stratified sampling technique, using self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were collected using pre-tested self-administered semi structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results a total of 420 students were interviewed, modal age range 15-20 years. There were more females (55%) than males (45%). Majority of them were christians (57.1%). A larger percentage of the respondents were aware of SCD (58.5%). However, comprehensive knowledge as regards the various genotypes related to SCD, tests to be done for genotype screening among the respondents is low. O...