Knowledge and Perception about Premarital Sickle Cell Genotype Screening among Undergraduates of Osun State University, Osun State

Abstract

Background: Understanding premarital sickle cell genotype screening is crucial for public health, particularly in regions with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease. This study investigates the level of knowledge and perceptions of premarital sickle cell genotype screening among undergraduates at Osun State University, Osun State, to identify gaps and inform educational strategies for better disease management and prevention. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design and a multi-stage sampling technique were employed. Data was collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.84. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 and presented in tables and charts. The hypotheses were tested using chi-square at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: A higher number of the respondents were between the ages 20-24 years with a mean age of 21.25 (SD 2.285) years; the singles were about (98%) while married respondents were 2%, most of which were female (62.7%) and 37.3%, male. Most respondents (97.1%) had good knowledge about premarital sickle cell genotype screening, while 96.2% had a positive perception of premarital genotype screening. There is a significant association between knowledge and perception of premarital sickle cell genotype screening (p<0.0001) Conclusion: There is a high level of knowledge about sickle cell disease and the importance of genotype testing. Most respondents showed a positive perception of premarital sickle cell genotype screening.