KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTHS ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN IBADAN NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects a considerable number of individuals and its impact reduces economic productivity. Young persons with this disease often experience vaso-occlusive crises, aneamia and are often susceptible to infections. There is dearth of correct information about SCD in Nigeria, especially among the out-of-school youths because of the sparse nature of the population. This study was therefore designed to investigate on the knowledge and perception of out-of-school youths on SCD in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Cluster sampling was used to choose the locations for the study and participants were selected during each visit using convenient sampling. An interviewer-administered questionnaire which included a 49-item was used to elicit information on the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of sickle cell disease and perception. The total knowledge score was 11. Knowledge scores 0-5, >5-8, and >8 were categorized as poor, fair, and good knowledge respectively. The total perception score was 20. Perception scores 0-5, >5-10, and >10 were categorised as negative, lukewarm, and positive perception, respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. Mean age of the respondents was 20.8±2.2 years. More than half (58.6%) of the respondents were males, while (41.4%) were females. Majority (72.6%) of the respondents were of the Yoruba ethnic group. Almost all (94.4%) of the respondents were aware of SCD, friends and family (50.1%) were their main sources of information. Most (88.9%) of the respondents were not aware of sickle cell trait (SCT). Some (40.4% of the respondents had done a blood genotype test. Almost all (92.8%) of the respondents did not know how SCD is confirmed or diagnosed. A considerable number of the respondents (57.4%) did not know how SCD is acquired. Few (38.1%) had poor knowledge about SCD, half (50.5%) had fair knowledge, and few (11.1%) had good knowledge about SCD, with a mean knowledge score of 4.1±2.1. There is no statistically significant relationship between age, religion, ethnicity, marital status, educational level and occupation of respondents and their knowledge on SCD. Positive SCD related perceptionsincluded the following views: Knowing my SCD status can influence my decision to marry (86.0%); anybody can carry the sickle cell gene (54.7%); while the negative perception views included: SCD is not a serious disease, it is only overemphasized (26.7%); and SCD can be prevented by eating good food (41.7%). Few (10.1%) of the respondents had negative perception, half (51.5%) had lukewarm perception and a considerable number (38.4%) had positive perception. Association between respondents’ gender and perception was statistically significant at p=0.001. Knowledge about sickle cell disease is generally fair, however despite fair knowledge; respondents had negative perceptions and misconception about the causes, means of acquisition and prevention of sickle cell disease. Public enlightenment and frequent health education at the community level is recommended to upgrade their knowledge and reduce misconceptions, these will help in improving positive perception on sickle cell disease amongst this population.