Sickle-cell Disease Knowledge among In-school Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary health problem affecting humans globally. The study determined the knowledge of sickle cell disease among in-school adolescents in public secondary schools in Nsukka LGA, Enugu state. Two research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised 14,947 students in all the public secondary schools in Nsukka LGA of Enugu state. The sample of 384 students was selected using multi-stage sampling procedure. A researcher-designed questionnaire titled “Sickle Cell Disease Knowledge Questionnaire” was used for data collection. Frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square (x²) statistics were used for data analysis. The results showed that in-school adolescents possessed a high knowledge (65.7%)of sickle cell disease; in-school adolescents in SSS class possessed higher knowledge of SCD (78.8%) than JSS class level (62.5%); in-school adolescents 18years and above had higher level of knowledge of SCD (71.0%) than those within 10-13years (61.8%)and 14-17years (62.5%): male in-school adolescents had higher level of knowledge of sickle cell disease(72.8%)than females (63.0%).There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge of sickle cell disease possessed by in-school adolescents in public secondary schools in Nsukka LGA based on class of study  (p = 0.012)while there was no significant difference in the level of knowledge of sickle cell disease possessed by in-school adolescents in public secondary schools in Nsukka LGA based on age (p= 0.227), and gender (p= 0.091). Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that sickle cell education should be incorporated into the Health Education Curriculum and made a compulsory subject/course for all students in college and tertiary institutions. In addition, the subject should be taught by professional health educators.