Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Physiology and Health
Session: 2
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Catherine Hardwick - Bowie State University
Co-Author(s): Christina Becton, Bowie State University, Silver Spring, MD; Nina Ukaibe, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD), the most commonly inherited and debilitating chronic blood disorder affecting minorities of African descent has inadequate primary level of prevention. Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study is to explore the knowledge, perception, and attitude of SCD among undergraduate students in a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) in United States. Result: Subjects (92.6%) have moderate knowledge of SCD. However, only 18.9% knew their genotype. Knowledge and attitude of SCD were significantly related to subject’s choice of a life partner (p<0.05) Conclusion: Knowledge of one’s sickle cell status and positive attitude toward SCD are the first and essential steps in the prevention of SCD. METHOD A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed with a convenience sample of 111 HBCU undergraduate students. Variables in a self-administered questionnaire were used to answer the research question and hypothesis of the study with descriptive and t-test for independent sample statistics. What is the current knowledge, perception and attitude of Sickle Cell Disease among undergraduate students of an HBCU? Hypothesis: This study hypothesizes that knowledge of genotype and inheritance pattern will affect the choice of a life partner. Results Based on the research question and the hypothesis of this study, subjects (92.6%) have moderate knowledge of SCD. However, only 18.9% knew their genotype. Knowledge and attitude of SCD were significantly related to knowledge of genotype and inheritance pattern and subsequently the subject’s choice of a life partner (p<0.05). CONCLUSION As an incurable genetic disease, an ounce of prevention of SCD is worth a pound of cure. Findings of this study highlighted the importance of creating awareness of the implications of mismatched genotypes in one’s choice of a life partner. Adequate knowledge and positive attitude of SCD among young adults would promote premarital control practices of sickle cell disease.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): HBCU-UP
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cordelia Obizoba, cobizoba@bowiestate.edu
Role: Introduction, abstract, data analysis, results, conclusion