Abstract:

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) poses significant health challenges, and genetic testing is crucial for early diagnosis and management. This study explores students' attitudes towards SCD testing and their overall knowledge about the disease, seeking to identify barriers and facilitators influencing their perceptions.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 295 university students, assessing their knowledge and attitudes towards SCD testing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations between demographic variables and knowledge/attitude levels. Crosstabs explored relationships between general knowledge and attitudes towards testing.

Results/Discussion: The majority of participants displayed a positive attitude towards SCD testing, with 195 (66.1%) strongly agreeing on the importance of knowing one's SCD status and 152 (51.5%) were willing to encourage partner testing if found to be a carrier. However, concerns about stigma 52 (17.6%), painful/difficult testing procedure 21 (7.1%), fear to involve in marriage 49 (16.6%) and the implications of being carriers in relationships 68 (23.1%) were notable barriers. Advanced medical doctor (MD) students (MD 3 to 5) demonstrate significantly better knowledge compared to (MD 1 – 2) students (p < 0.001), Marital status is another important factor, with single participants exhibiting higher knowledge than their married or divorced counterparts (p = 0.004). However, gender did not show any statistically significant association with knowledge levels (p = 0.362). Despite a positive overall attitude, the study found no significant statistical correlation between knowledge and attitude (p=0.248).

Conclusion: The findings highlight a generally supportive attitude towards SCD testing among students, although stigma and relationship concerns remain significant barriers. Addressing these issues through targeted educational and support programs could enhance testing uptake and improve SCD management. Future research should further explore these barriers and assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies to promote better health outcomes related to SCD.