Attitudes and practices of unmarried adults towards sickle cell disease: emergent factors from a cross sectional study in Nigeria’s capital

Figures & data

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics.

Variable	Frequency (%)
Gender
Male	740 (52.0)
Female	683 (48.0)
Age
≤ 20	445 (31.6)
21–30	674 (47.9)
31 and above	289 (20.5)
Highest level of education
Primary education	47 (3.5)
Secondary education	372 (27.8)
Diploma	339 (25.4)
First degree/HND	518 (36.4)
Postgraduate	61 (4.6)
Do you know your genotype
No	200 (14.4)
Yes	1189 (83.6)
I have a relative/friend who is affected with sickle cell disease
No	904 (63.5)
Yes	447 (33.1)

Table 2. Attitude towards sickle cell disease.

SN	Statement	Agree N (%)	Disagree N (%)	Undecided N (%)
1	A law should be enacted to prohibit marriage between 2 sickle cell carriers.	1044 (73.4)	196 (13.8)	183 (12.9)
2	Abortion of an unborn sickle cell disease baby should be encouraged by law.	381 (26.8)	782 (55.0)	260 (18.3)
3	I would encourage someone with sickle cell trait to marry a carrier partner.	188 (13.2)	1042 (73.2)	193 (13.5)
4	I would terminate the pregnancy of my unborn baby following prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disease.	372 (26.1)	736 (51.7)	315 (22.1)
5	Undertaking sickle cell testing of all family members is important.	1108 (77.9)	166 (11.7)	149 (10.5)
6	I can marry someone with sickle cell disease if I am of AA genotype.	748 (52.6)	389 (27.3)	286 (20)
7	I will end my relationship if I discover that our genotypes predispose us to having children with sickle cell disease.	839 (59.0)	294 (20.7)	290 (22.3)
8	Subjecting oneself to genetic counselling before marriage shows lack of faith in God.	297 (20.9)	930 (65.4)	196 (13.7)
9	I am willing to subject myself to premarital genetic counselling on sickle cell disease.	1041 (73.2)	166 (11.7)	216 (15.2)
10	I am willing to undertake premarital sickle cell disease screening along with my partner.	987 (69.4)	226 (15.9)	210 (14.8)
11	I can marry someone with sickle cell disease irrespective of my genotype.	205 (14.4)	902 (63.4)	316 (22.2)

Table 3. Practice relating to sickle cell disease.

SN	Statement	Yes N (%)	No N (%)
1	I have ended a relationship as a result of genotype incompatibility.	391 (28.9)	964 (71.1)
2	I prioritise sickle cell screening in a relationship.	906 (67.1)	445 (31.3)
3	I associate with people suffering from sickle cell disease.	797 (59.0)	554 (41.0)
4	I will undertake relevant screening for sickle cell trait as a prerequisite for marriage.	939 (69.5)	413 (30.5)
5	I have discouraged marriage between partners possessing sickle cell trait in the past.	514 (38.0)	837 (62.0)
6	I always encourage people around me to know their genotype.	1053 (77.9)	299 (22.1)
7	I am always willing to provide support for people suffering from sickle cell disease.	1099 (81.5)	250 (18.5)
8	I have discriminated against people suffering from sickle cell disease in the past.	302 (22.5)	1038 (77.5)
9	I have helped to spread awareness about sickle cell disease.	801 (60.1)	531 (37.3)

Table 4. Inferential statistical analyses.

Variables	Category	Mean ± SD	Test of significance (p)
Gender			T = −3.508 (0.012)
Male		6.37 ± 2.64
Female		6.85 ± 2.50
Age			F = 8.466 (<0.001)
≤20	a	6.22 ± 2.72
21–30	b	6.68 ± 2.39
31 and above	c	6.99 ± 2.76
Highest level of education			F = 28.219 (< 0.001)
Primary education	a	4.49 ± 2.96
Secondary education	b	5.58 ± 2.73
Diploma	c	6.49 ± 2.41
First degree/HND	d	7.31 ± 2.28
Postgraduate	e	7.30 ± 2.74
Do you know your genotype			t = −2.902 (0.001)
Yes		6.72 ± 2.50
No		6.16 ± 2.91
I have a relative/friend who is affected with sickle cell disease
Yes		7.15 ± 2.30	t = 3.015 (0.003)
No		6.76 ± 2.23

Post hoc analysisAge: a vs b (0.004); a vs c (< 0.001); b vs c (0.079)Highest level of education: a vs b (< 0.001); a vs c (< 0.001); a vs d (< 0.001); a vs e (< 0.001); b vs c (0.001); b vs d (< 0.001); b vs e (< 0.001); c vs d (< 0.001) c vs e (0.020); d vs e (0.963)

Note: F = analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, t = student’s t-test.

Data availability

All data generated and analysed during this research are available on request.