Knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents in a unity school in Southeast, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
| Autor: | Anthony N Ikefuna, Echezona E. Ezeanolue, B F Chukwu, Osita U Ezenwosu, Ifeyinwa L Ezenwosu, Ifeoma J Emodi |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Sickle cell trait
Cross-sectional study business.industry Nigerians 030231 tropical medicine Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Disease Specific knowledge medicine.disease 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Pediatrics Perinatology and Child Health Genotype medicine General knowledge 030212 general & internal medicine business Demography Reproductive health |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. 33:395-400 |
| ISSN: | 2191-0278 |
| DOI: | 10.1515/ijamh-2019-0149 |
| Popis: | Objective Our study sought to assesses the knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents. Methods Participants were recruited from a large school in Southeast Nigeria where adult prevalence of sickle cell trait is 25%. Data was collected through a 50-item survey with previously pretested questions that assessed awareness of individual genotype, general knowledge of sickle cell disease, perception of sickle cell trait and sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Additionally, self-reported genotype was compared to the school’s admission records to determine accuracy of self-reported genotype. The knowledge scores were summed on a binary basis with one point assigned for a correct answer while zero was given for an incorrect response. Results Four hundred and nine (409) students were approached and enrolled in the study. A vast majority (94%) of the respondents reported being aware of their genotype and two-thirds had the awareness during school admission. However, in specific knowledge of sickle cell, majority (89.7%) of the participants miscalculated the probability of having a child with SCA in married carrier couple and 71.9% misidentified the proportion of Nigerians with sickle cell trait. Assessing level of knowledge of sickle cell, only very few of the adolescents (7.3%) were found with the expected high knowledge scores of 7–8. Conclusion Although a significant proportion of respondents were aware of their genotype, most were unaware of the implications of sickle cell trait and thought that people with sickle cell trait also have symptoms of sickle cell disease. Also, only a few of the respondents have the expected level of sickle cell knowledge. A focused educational intervention among this age group is crucial as they embark on making reproductive health decisions. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|