National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2023 May;11(5):e2142. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.2142. Epub 2023 Feb 2.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder with its highest prevalence in Nigeria. The condition causes red blood cells to turn rigid, and consequently, results to several complications including organ damage. This study aimed at assessing views of health practitioners in Nigeria on policies and practices in the area of access to healthcare services for sickle cell disease.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst healthcare professionals in Nigeria. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and analyses were undertaken using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software.
A significant proportion of the participants (42.8%) disagreed that relevant legislative framework exists to facilitate optimal access to high-quality healthcare services for persons with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria. Two-thirds of the study cohort were of the opinion that public health surveillance towards sickle cell disease was suboptimal (61.2%). Also, more than three-quarters of the respondents (78.7%) indicated that the cost of managing sickle cell disease was not affordable to majority of affected Nigerians.
This study provides critical insights into access to healthcare services for sickle cell disease. As such, challenges preventing access to healthcare services for sickle cell patients which have been identified in this study can underpin the development of contextual policies to address them.
镰状细胞病是一种遗传性疾病，在尼日利亚的发病率最高。这种疾病会导致红细胞变硬，从而导致多种并发症，包括器官损伤。本研究旨在评估尼日利亚卫生保健从业者对镰状细胞病医疗服务准入政策和实践的看法。
在尼日利亚的卫生保健专业人员中进行了横断面研究。使用自我管理问卷收集数据，并使用社会科学统计软件包进行分析。
相当一部分参与者（42.8%）认为，尼日利亚不存在相关立法框架，以促进镰状细胞障碍患者获得高质量医疗服务。三分之二的研究对象认为，针对镰状细胞病的公共卫生监测不佳（61.2%）。此外，超过四分之三的受访者（78.7%）表示，镰状细胞病的治疗费用大多数受影响的尼日利亚人无法负担。
本研究深入了解了镰状细胞病的医疗服务可及性。因此，本研究中确定的影响镰状细胞病患者获得医疗服务的挑战，可以为制定解决这些挑战的背景政策提供依据。
