Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Screening for Sickle Cell Trait Among Adults Attending Kampala Capital City Authority Health Centers.

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to assess the levels of knowledge about screening for sickle cell trait and to determine the attitude towards utilizing screening services for sickle cell trait among adults attending KCCA health centers. Furthermore, the study was used to determine the uptake of screening services for sickle cell trait among adults attending KCCA health centers. Method: This study was a cross section study involving both male and female adults seeking health services at any KCCA health centers in Kampala, using researcher-administered questionnaires. Results: 67% of study subjects had knowledge of SCT screening, 53% did not know what was entailed in the test, and 61% did not know where to access these services from. 65.6% did not know who was at risk of having a child with either SCT or SCD; 35.9% did not know has SCD spreads. Attitude towards screening for SCT was positive in 86% of the study subjects. Only 4% reported ever going for a screening test for SCT, while 29.4% reported ever being advised to go for a SCT screening test. The following were found to be of statistical significance in influencing uptake of SCT screening services, at α=0.05; education level, χ 2 = 0.0032; awareness of SCD. χ 2 = 0.002; knowledge of what sample is used to screen for SCD, χ 2 = 0.02; and knowledge of the possibility that parents who have no SCD can actually have children with SCD, .χ 2 =0.005. Conclusion: This study showed poor knowledge of SCD among the studied subjects, a positive attitude toward screening for SCT, but A very poor uptake rate of SCT screening services. This highlighted a need for creation and prompt implementation of a health policy on SCD, as well as starting up a SCD- focused program; massive public awareness campaign on SCD; and building capacity of health workers to provide appropriate SCT screening and counselling services for all.