Awareness and Acceptability of Premarital Screening of Sickle Cell Disease Among Students of the University of Benin, Benin City

INTRODUCTION:

Premarital screening for diagnosis of sickle cell disease is helpful in the prevention of the condition. It provides information about the health of the individual while assessing the health related reproductive risk.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of awareness and acceptability of premarital screening for sickle cell disease amongst students of the University of Benin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out amongst under-graduate students in the University of Benin, Benin City. A total of 400 respondents were selected using the multistage sampling method. Data was collected through pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS and p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From the study, 51.8% of the population were males.There was a high level of awareness about sickle cell disease among the respondents (96.8%). Awareness of sickle cell disease was significantly asssociated with sex (p < 0.05) but not with faculty of respondents. (p > 0.05).

Majority of the respondents (94.2%) had a positive attitude towards premarital screening for haemoglobin genotype. Age was significantly associated with attitude towards premarital screening (p < 0.05).

There was a high level of acceptability of premarital genotype screening by respondents (96.6%).

The factors affecting awareness and acceptability of premarital screening for sickle cell disease are mainly religious beliefs (63.3%) and lack of awareness of health centres where screening for sickle cell disease is done (48.8%).

CONCLUSION: There was a high level of awareness towards premarital screening for haemoglobin genotype amongst students of the University of Benin. Health education is needed to help under-graduates make well informed decisions concerning pre-marital screening for Sickle cell disease.

KEYWORDS: Acceptability; Premarital screening; Sickle Cell Disease;