Efficacy Of Premarital Genotype Screening And Counselling On Knowledge And Attitude Toward Sickle Cell Disease Among University Students In Dodoma Tanzania: Uncontrolled Quasiexperimental Stu

ABSTRACT

Background: Tanzania is experiencing the increase burden of Sickle cell disease, with an estimate of 20.6% prevalence Sickle Cell carriers. However, there is no preventive measure has been put in this area by the government; a great focus has been directed in the diagnosis and management and national guideline emphasis on the care of people affected by Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: This study intended to determine the efficacy of premarital genotype screening and counselling on knowledge and attitude toward Sickle Cell disease among university students in Dodoma Tanzania.

Methods: A non-controlled quasi-experimental study was conducted from June to September 2020 among 697 randomly recruited first-years university students from the University of Dodoma. Pre and post-test knowledge and attitude information were collected through structured self-administered questionnaires. Health education on Sickle Cell disease were performed, also screening procedure was done to obtain the prevalence of Sickle Cell Trait among participants. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze both descriptive and inferential statistics data. Charts, tables, and figures were used to present the findings.