Knowledge,Attitude And Practices Of Sickle Cell Disease Screening Of Secondary School Students In Namanve Village Goma Division, Mukono District

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Sickle cell disease is still prevalent in Uganda where 15,000 to 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease every year and 80% of them, unfortunately, die before their 5th birthday. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice among adolescents on menstruation and associated with sickle cell disease screening among secondary school students in Namanve, Goma division, Mukono district. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to gather information on knowledge, attitudes and practice on sickle cell disease screening between the months of September and October 2018. Results: Samples of 245 respondents were interviewed and out of that 38.37 % had never screened for sickle cell disease. According to this study findings, sickle cell disease screening was determined by parent‟s occupation, regular health check-ups, feeling sympathy for people with SCD (OR=3.526, CI (1.063-11.699) among others. Conclusion: This study found out that there is still a high prevalence of SCD and screening is still low. Thus the risk factors established are controllable, avoidable and some are preventable. The concerned stakeholders are therefore informed about them so that positive measures may be put in place to control the disease. Recommendation: Medical and public health intervention should be directed towards the promotion of sickle cell disease screening.