Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Sickle Cell Disease Among Caregivers of Children Attending Mulago Hospital - Sickle Cell Clinic.

Abstract

Sickle cell disease remains a silent killer among Ugandans. Sickle cell disease continues to kill close to 33,000 babies per year in Uganda (SCAU, 2014). There are limited services for sickle cell patients. Sickle cell patients continue to suffer stigmatization and discrimination within the community as well as from their families. If the challenges of sickle cell patients are not addressed, consequences such as increased morbidity and mortality from sickle cell disease will increase as well as the burden of the disease within the community will increase. This study seeks to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices on sickle cell disease among care givers of children attending Mulago Hospital-sickle cell clinic.

The study was a sectional study involving 392 care-givers of children suffering from sickle cell disease. Data from the respondents was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire on the knowledge, attitude and practices of care-givers on sickle cell disease. The results from the study indicated that the care-givers’ knowledge ranged between low and moderate on the different aspects sickle cell disease. Some of the respondents had a negative attitude while other had a positive attitude towards sickle cell disease. The practices of the care-givers included providing a balanced diet to the children, giving exercises, taking the children for screening and supporting the children to live positively.

Therefore, the government through the ministry of health should conduct community sensitization for care-givers of children suffering from sickle cell disease so as to increase their level of knowledge on SCD and ways of improving practices in the care of children with sickle cell disease.