Animasahun B A, Akitoye C O, Njokanma O F
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2009 Sep-Dec;19(4):195-9. doi: 10.4314/nqjhm.v19i4.54524.
Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a chronic haemolytic disorder caused by homozygous inheritance of abnormal haemoglobin called 'haemoglobin S' (HbS). The disease burden is enormous to the patient, family and community. One potential weapon in its prevention is health information and awareness among the populace.
The study is to detrmine the awareness of sickle cell anaemia among health professionals and medical students at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idiaraba, Lagos.
Part of a large study which was cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), between the months of August and September 2006. Data were collected from 403 health professionals and students using structured questionnaires.
Majority (98.7%) of the respondents had heard about SCA. Only 211 (55%) of the respondent felt genotype screening should be done at pre-school age. 128 (33.7%) felt it should be done during childhood. Doctors had a statistically significantly better knowledge of best time for detecting genotype. In all, 85% of the respondents had been involved in the management of sickle cell anaemia with the highest proportion among nurses (p = 0.02). Only 93 (24.3%) of the respondents knew most of the complications of sickle cell anaemia, 176 (46.3%) knew some of it, while 111 (29.2%) knew only a law complications. Nurses had a statistically significantly poorer knowledge of the complication of sickle cell anaemia. More nurses felt that engagement should be ended if there was a risk of having a child with sickle cell anaemia.
Continuing medical education for health professionals about sickle cell anaemia, its management and complication is necessary.
镰状细胞贫血（SCA）是一种慢性溶血性疾病，由异常血红蛋白“血红蛋白S”（HbS）的纯合子遗传引起。该病给患者、家庭和社区带来了巨大负担。预防该病的一个潜在武器是民众的健康信息和意识。
本研究旨在确定拉各斯伊迪亚拉巴的拉各斯大学教学医院的卫生专业人员和医学生对镰状细胞贫血的知晓情况。
这是一项大型研究的一部分，为横断面描述性研究，于2006年8月至9月在拉各斯大学教学医院（LUTH）开展。使用结构化问卷从403名卫生专业人员和学生中收集数据。
大多数（98.7%）受访者听说过SCA。只有211名（55%）受访者认为应在学龄前进行基因型筛查。128名（33.7%）受访者认为应在儿童期进行。医生对检测基因型的最佳时间的了解在统计学上有显著优势。总体而言，85%的受访者参与过镰状细胞贫血的管理，其中护士所占比例最高（p = 0.02）。只有93名（24.3%）受访者了解镰状细胞贫血的大多数并发症，176名（46.3%）了解一些，而111名（29.2%）只知道少数并发症。护士对镰状细胞贫血并发症的了解在统计学上明显较差。更多护士认为，如果有生育患镰状细胞贫血孩子的风险，就应该终止妊娠。
有必要对卫生专业人员进行关于镰状细胞贫血及其管理和并发症的继续医学教育。
