Knowledge and belies towards sickle cell disease among adults in Nyamagana District Mwanza, Tanzania
Michael Daniel Lugwisha CUHAS/MD/4001961/T/17
Knowledge and belies towards sickle cell disease among adults in Nyamagana District Mwanza, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©15.09.2022 - ix; 37 Pages Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: The highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) is in Africa where up to 75% of the 300,000 global births of SCD per year occur [4] and where childhood mortality remains high, ranging between 50 and 90% [5]. Tanzania is amongst the 5 countries in the world with the highest estimated number of newborns with SCD a year [6]. Knowledge about SCD prior to marriage is essential to many young adults as a domain for choosing their life partners. This is also important to make the people aware of the possible genotypes of their children so as to reduce incidence of SCD. Resident’s knowledge and beliefs towards SCD are among the contributing factors important for planning educational Programme as well as determine level of stigmatization towards patients affected with SCD.
Methodology: This was a community based cross sectional study. Data was collected between November 2021 and February 2022 using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 software program.
Results and Discussion: About 51.8% of 415 Nyamagana residents had inadequate knowledge on SCD. One third 32.5% of the respondents reported to blame the mother and maternal side with suspicion that the disease is maternal related. However, more than two thirds of the respondents said they cannot marry a person with SCD and majority 41% still believe its superstitious.
Conclusion: In general, there was a limited understanding and inadequate knowledge of SCD among the residents of Nyamagana. And still prevailing poor belief on SCD as majority still believe SCD is superstitious. The government has to increase efforts in awareness campaigns to the communities around Lake Victoria.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Paediatrics and Child Health --Internal Medicine
Knowledge and belies towards sickle cell disease among adults in Nyamagana District Mwanza, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©15.09.2022 - ix; 37 Pages Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: The highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) is in Africa where up to 75% of the 300,000 global births of SCD per year occur [4] and where childhood mortality remains high, ranging between 50 and 90% [5]. Tanzania is amongst the 5 countries in the world with the highest estimated number of newborns with SCD a year [6]. Knowledge about SCD prior to marriage is essential to many young adults as a domain for choosing their life partners. This is also important to make the people aware of the possible genotypes of their children so as to reduce incidence of SCD. Resident’s knowledge and beliefs towards SCD are among the contributing factors important for planning educational Programme as well as determine level of stigmatization towards patients affected with SCD.
Methodology: This was a community based cross sectional study. Data was collected between November 2021 and February 2022 using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 software program.
Results and Discussion: About 51.8% of 415 Nyamagana residents had inadequate knowledge on SCD. One third 32.5% of the respondents reported to blame the mother and maternal side with suspicion that the disease is maternal related. However, more than two thirds of the respondents said they cannot marry a person with SCD and majority 41% still believe its superstitious.
Conclusion: In general, there was a limited understanding and inadequate knowledge of SCD among the residents of Nyamagana. And still prevailing poor belief on SCD as majority still believe SCD is superstitious. The government has to increase efforts in awareness campaigns to the communities around Lake Victoria.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Paediatrics and Child Health --Internal Medicine