The age range of the respondents is expected
in view of the fact that only graduates,
thirty years and below, are allowed to participate
in the National Youth Service Programme.
Those that are over thirty years of age
are usually exempted from the youth service
scheme. It is not surprising that the three
major ethnic groups in Nigeria, namely Yoruba,
Ibo and Hausa, are represented in this study
in view of the fact that youth Corpers are
usually posted outside their state of origin.
The percentage of persons in a community
with one of the two types of haemoglobin
genes (normal or abnormal) is an indication
of health awareness of its population.(16)
Knowledge of whether one is a carrier or
sickler is the responsibility of the person
and the entire community.(16) It is impressive
that most respondents were aware of their
haemoglobin genotype. Our finding is in
keeping with another Nigerian study by Moronkola
et al in Ibadan which revealed that the
majority of their respondents (63.6%) knew
their AA haemoglobin genotype.(17) Our finding
is also comparable with another Nigerian
study by Agbanusi et al in Enugu which reported
that only 14% did not know their haemoglobin
genotype.(18)
Our finding is however at variance with
that of Treadwell et al in which only a
few of their respondents knew their haemoglobin
genotype status.(19) The fact that only
one of our respondents who knew their genotype
had HbSC genotype, is expected. This finding
is in tandem with another Nigerian study
by Adeyemo et al in which only 0.7% of their
respondents had HbSC genotype.(20) The high
level of awareness about sickle cell disease
among the study population is commendable
and may have contributed to their high level
of awareness about their haemoglobin genotype.
A high level of awareness about sickle cell
disease is beneficial as it promotes early
detection and management of the disease.(6)
The level of awareness of sickle cell disease
among our study population is higher than
that of Vasava et al in India among adolescents,
in which only 46.2% of their study population
had heard of sickle cell disease.(6) The
higher level of awareness of our study population
due to the fact that our respondents who
were graduates are likely to be exposed
to opportunities which could widen their
knowledge base about diseases, most especially
the ones that have a genetic basis. Kudos
to Nigerian teachers and lecturers as most
of the respondents became aware of sickle
cell disease through lectures and seminar.
This finding brings to fore the role of
school teachers and lecturers in passing
across health messages in the school environment.
Health workers can promote awareness about
common diseases especially those with genetic
basis by working closely with school teachers
and lectures. The role of Nigerian media
in contributing to the awareness of our
study population is impressive. However
more efforts should be made in creating
awareness about diseases through the mass
media. The fact that less than half of our
respondents were in support of therapeutic
abortion if the baby is likely to be a sickler
is not surprising. This finding could be
due to the religious belief of the respondents.
The finding is in tandem with another Nigerian
study by Durosinmi et al in which only 45%
of their study population will opt for termination
of pregnancy if the baby is likely to be
a sickler.(21)
Most respondents were aware of sickle cell
disease and the majority of them became
aware of the disease through lectures and
seminar. The majority of our respondents
were also aware of their haemoglobin genotype.
Recommendation
1) The school health progammme should
be strengthened as appropriate health messages
can be passed to students in school.
2) Health workers should play a more
prominent role in creating awareness about
diseases most especially those with a genetic
basis.
3) The populace should be educated
about their health through the mass media.
We appreciate the respondents for participating
in this study. The support of the Management
of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State
is hereby acknowledged.
1) Jaussen AM, Garduer TW, Kirchhof B and
Ryan SJ. Sickle cell retinopathy and haemoglobinopathies.
Retinal vascular disease Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2007:700-734.
2) Schnog JB, Duits AJ, Muskiet FAJ, Cate
HT, Rojer RA and Brandjes DPM. Sickle cell
disease, a general over view. Netherlands
The Journal of Medicine 2004;62(10):364-374.
3) Serjeant GR. Mortality from sickle cell
disease in Africa.BMJ 2005;330:432-433.)
4) Makani J, Williams TN and Marsh K.. Sickle
cell disease in Africa: burden and research
priorities. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2007;101(1):3-14.
5) Al Nasir FA and Niazi G. Sickle cell disease:
patients' awareness and management. Annals
of Saudi Medicine.1998;18(1):63-65.
6) Vasava B, Srivastava RK, Chudasama RK and
Godara NR. Awareness about various aspects
of sickle cell disease among tribal adolescents.
The Internet Journal of Epidemiology 2009;6:2.
7) Abu Sarir HA, El Bashir AM, Al Dabous IS,
Alkhater M. Incidence of major infections
in sickle cell paediatric patients from Qatif
Central Hospital. Ann Saud Med 1991;11:267-70.
8) Creary M, Williamson Dand Kulkarni R.Sickle
cell disease: current activities, public health
implications and future directions. J Womens
Health (Larchmt).2007;16(5):575-82.
9) Adeyemi AS and Adekanle DA. Knowledge and
attitude of female health workers towards
prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disease
.Niger J Med 2007;16(3):268-270.
10) Lawson JB. Sickle cell disease in pregnancy
.In: Lawson JB, Stewart OB(Eds).Obstetrics
and Gynaecology in the tropics and developing
countries: London: Edward Amold (publishers)
Ltd.1967:100-119.
11) Oyedeji GA. The effects of sickle cell
disease on the families of affected children(letter).
Central Afr Med J.1995;41(10):333-334.
12) Platt OS, Brambilla DJ, Roesse WF et al.
Mortality in sickle cell disease .Life expectancy
and risk factors for early death. N Engl J
Med 1994;330:1639-44.
13) Leikin SL ,Gallagher D, Kinney TR, Sloane
D, Klug P, Rida W. Mortality in children and
adolescents with sickle cell disease. Cooperative
study of sickle cell disease. Pediatrics 1989;84:500-8.
14) Serjeant GR. Natural history and determinants
of clinical severity of sickle cell disease.
Curr Opin Hematol 1995;2:103-8.
15) Desai P and Serjeant GR. Awareness of
sickle cell disease among high school students
in Kingston, Jamaica. Public Health Rep.1976;91(3):265-267.
16) Nwafor A and Banigo BM.A comparison of
measured and predicted haemoglobin genotype
in Bonny,Rivers state, Nig. J Appl. Sci. Environ
Mangt. 2001;5(1):79-81.
17 ) Moronkola OA and Fadairo RA. University
students in Nigeria: Knowledge, attitude towards
sickle cell disease and genetic counselling
before marriage. International Quaterly Journal
of Community Health Education.2007;26(1):85-93.
18)Agbanusi O, Amaechi C, Onyejizu C, Osuorji
C, Chukwuma A and Igwe A. Sickle cell anaemia:
awareness of sickle cell anaemia and its heterozygous
state among undergraduate students of the
University of Nigeria,Enugu. Medikka Journal
of the University of Nigeria Medical students.2007;03331-1643.
19) Treadwell MJ, McClough L, Vichinsky E.
Using qualitative and quantitative strategies
to evaluate knowledge and perceptions about
sickle cell trait. J Natl Med Assoc 2006;98(5):
704-10.
20) Adeyemo OA and Soboyejo OB. Frequency
distribution of ABO,RH blood groups and blood
genotypes among the cell biology and genetics
students of University of Lagos, Nigeria.
African Journal of Bio technology 2006;5(22):2062-5.
21) Durosinmi MA, Odebiyi AI, Akinola NO,
Adediran LA, Aken 'Ova Y, Okunade MA, Halim
NK, Onwukeme KE, Olatunji PO, Adegoroye DE,
Acceptability of prenatal diagnosis of sickle
cell anaemia by a sample of Nigerian population.
Afri J Med Med Sci.1997;26(1-2):55-58.
