KNOWLEDGE AND PREVALENCE OF THE SICKLE CELL TRAIT AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR

Valerie Esame Njar, Frances Ugonne Ogunnaya and Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu*

ABSTRACT

Sickle cell trait (SCT) is a benign condition characterized by the inheritance of a normal hemoglobin gene (HbA) from one parent and an abnormal, mutated β1-globin gene, the sickle hemoglobin gene (HbS), from the other parent, resulting in a heterozygous haemoglobin genotype of HbA/HbS (HbAS). The prevalence of SCT worldwide is estimated to be about 300 million, with the highest prevalence observed in regions where malaria is endemic, such as sub-Saharan Africa and tribal India. Despite its high prevalence in the Nigerian population (about 25%), there is limited research on the knowledge and awareness of SCT among university students. This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and prevalence of the sickle cell trait among undergraduate students of the University of Calabar. This was a cross-sectional interviewer administered questionnaire study, involving 300 undergraduates of the University of Calabar, who were selected using the multistage sampling technique. Information collected include socio-demographic information, as well as questions to assess their knowledge of sickle cell trait. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Blood samples were also collected from the participants and analyzed for the presence of sickle cell trait using the Alkaline cellulose acetate method of haemoglobin electrophoresis (pH 8.6). The total knowledge score was 10, and depending on the total score of the respondents, knowledge levels were grouped as poor (0-3), fair (4-6), and good (7-10). One hundred and forty-seven respondents had poor knowledge (45.7%), while 35.3%, and 19.0% had fair, and good knowledge respectively. The knowledge level of the respondents based on the score revealed a mean score of 4.37 ± 2.44, indicating fair general knowledge of the respondents. The study also revealed that females showed better knowledge of SCT (19.7%) than males (18.1%). Respondents who were above 30 years gave more correct answers (27.2%), while the age group of 21-25 years was the next best (21.4%). Married persons, showed a better level of awareness of SCT (23.1%) than the single individuals (18.7%), while those in their sixth year of study appeared to have better knowledge of the trait than the other groups. However, demographics had no statistical significance on the respondents’ knowledge of the trait (p > 0.05). Results also showed that the prevalence of SCT was relatively high among the participants, with 26% of the participants having the trait. Males had a higher carrier percentage than females (26.8% vs 25.4% respectively). These findings underscore the importance of increased public education about SCT among undergraduates, in order to increase their knowledge of sickle cell trait, and can help inform the development of targeted public health interventions aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of sickle cell trait among this population, as well as sensitizing students about the need for genetic counselling and informed decision-making.

Keywords: Knowledge, prevalence, sickle cell trait, students, sickle cell aneamia, anaemia.