AWARENESS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE AMONGST FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AT UZIMA UNIVERSITY KISUMU

Abstract

Globally, approximately 300,000 babies are born with SCD annually; this number is expected to increase to up to 400,000 individuals by 2050 (Piel et al., 2013). In Kenya, it is estimated that 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease annually and it contributes significantly to both child and adult morbidity and mortality (MOH, 2023). The main objective of this study was to investigate awareness of sickle cell disease amongst first year medical students at Uzima University. The specific objectives were to assess their knowledge on how sickle cell disease was acquired; to assess their awareness of the clinical manifestations of the disease; to determine their knowledge on the role of genetic counselling in sickle cell disease and to examine their knowledge on the treatment options available to sickle cell disease. The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative study design. The study population were first year Uzima University students. The sample size was be 220 selected using a simple random sampling method. Data collection was through the use of close-ended questionnaires which were piloted at the KCA University on 20 first year students. The data was cleaned, coded then analysed using SPSS software version 29. The analysis was descriptive using frequencies and inferential statistics to assess the relationship between age, sex and knowledge of sickle cell disease. Out of the 220 self-administered questionnaires 187 were returned giving a response rate of 85%. Among the respondents 41.7% were males and 58.3% were females. Most of the respondents’ age ranged from 21- 25 years. The results revealed that 59.4 % of the respondents knew that sickle cell disease was a blood disorder, 54.5% stated that African continent were the most affected and that the African race suffered most from the disease, 35.8% stated that the life expectancy from sickle cell disease was 40 years but only 35.8% could identify all the complications of sickle cell disease. The respondents further stated that the estimated number of people living with sickle cell disease was 2.5million and 48% of the respondents correctly stated that there was no cure for the disease. Additionally, only 34.8% identified correctly what sickle cell disease due to the red blood cells and only 42.2% identified the correct time for screening for sickle cell disease and only 29.4% identified the role of genetic counselling in the control of sickle cell disease. In conclusion, although more than half of the participants in this study were aware of the existence of sickle cell disease, they however lacked adequate knowledge regarding critical aspects of the disease. Given the relative prevalence and burden of sickle cell disease in some parts of Kenya, it is critical for government, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to collectively develop comprehensive and contextual strategies that can underpin effective dissemination of knowledge amongst different population groups in the country.