Abstract:

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a very devastating condition caused by an autosomal recessive inherited hemoglobinopathy. The disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality especially in under five children who suffer from its complications due to late hospital attendance which is facilitated by attitudes and acceptability of the parents and caregivers towards the disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the attitude and acceptability of sickle cell diagnosis to parents of children born at Bugando Medical Center.

Methodology: The study was a prospective cross-sectional hospital based study conducted at Bugando Medical Center from June 2022 to June 2023 which involved 155 parents and caregivers of children born at BMC who met the criteria for participating in the study. They were invited to participate and they were given questionnaire to read and fill where required. The study focused on collecting information based on their attitude and acceptability towards SCD. Data were recorded, translated and analyzed using a computer program SPSS version 20.

Results: A total number of 155 parents were involved in the study. Majority were between 21 to 30 years of age, females were 124 (80%) and males 31 (20%). The attitude of SCD diagnosis was good as 100% of parents believed that it is not a sin living with a child inherited SCD, also 99.6% of parents believed that children with SCD can live and play well with others. Acceptability of SCD diagnosis was well as 100% of parents were ready to help the children with SCD, about 100% never regretted having children with SCD and 100% agreed on early newborn screening of SCD.

Conclusion: This study gives a clear information on the good attitude and acceptability of sickle cell diagnosis to parents of children born at BMC, none of them reported on witchcraft as a cause of SCD and they believed that these children could play and live well with others. They also showed a good acceptability their children having inherited SCD as they felt concerned and they were ready to support them. Neither of them regretted having a child with SCD and all of them agreed on the early newborn screening of SCD as a means of reducing morbidity and mortality especially in children under five.