STIGMA TOWARDS PEOPLE LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN MOKOLA COMMUNITY, IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of public health importance that has contributed significantly to high infant mortality rate Worldwide. People living with sickle cell disease are at risk of stigmatization due to perceived negative attitudes about their illness hence it has been observed that stigmatizing attitude is increasingly being recognised among people living with sickle cell disease. The aim of this study is to determine the level of stigma towards people living with sickle cell disease in Mokola community. A cross sectional study was carried out using multi-stage cluster sampling technique to select 500 respondents. A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographics, knowledge and beliefs about sickle cell disease and stigmatizing attitude towards people living with sickle cell disease was used to elicit information from study participants. Stigmatisation was measured using social distance scale by Bogardus. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square for test of association and multinomial logistic regression to determine predictors of stigmatizing attitude at 5% significant level. The mean age of respondents 33.4±10.4years, 56.4% were females, 58.4% were Christians and 37.8% had completed secondary school education. Among respondents' with low intimacy, 58.9% reported high stigma and 40.6% of those with moderate intimacy had low stigma while 73.3% of respondents with high intimacy had low stigma. Level of awareness was high (100%), 52.6% had poor knowledge, 55% had good belief, 52.4% had good attitude and 52.2% knew their genotype status. Monogamous setting (OR=8.25, Cl=1.339-50.839) was the only predictor of moderate relative to low stigmatizing attitude while secondary education (OR=2.04, CI=1.166-3.570), good belief (OR=0.49 CI=0.313-0.792), high intimacy (OR=0.25, CI=0.145-0.455) and moderate intimacy (OR=0.32, Cl=0.191-0.546) were the predictors of high relative to low stigmatizing attitude towards people living with sickle cell disease. There is need for more health education about knowledge on causes, treatment and prevention of sickle cell disease. Anti-stigma intervention programmes should be put in place to reduce stigma towards people living with sickle cell disease.