Sickle Cell Disease Knowledge, Premarital Genotype Screening and Marital Decision Among Unmarried Students of Lagos State Polytechnic Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria

Marital decision following premarital genotype screening is a key to prevent the risk of having children with Sickle cell disease.  Sickle cell disorder is one of the genetic diseases affecting Nigerians and its effective eradication and management constitute a challenge to both parents and health professionals due to the transmission of the genetic trait from parents to offspring, frequent hospitalization of the affected persons and associated mortality This study assessed Sickle cell disease knowledge, premarital genotype screening and marital decision among Students of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 435 unmarried students of Lagos State polytechnic Ikorodu Lagos, Nigeria. Data were collected through structured and validated questionnaire with the help of four research assistants. The reliability of the instrument was determined, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the structure range from 0.71 to 0.78. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to answer the three research questions and three hypotheses. Majority of the participants had a high knowledge on sickle cell disease 402 (98%), the means score of the participants knowledge was 39.3±2.91. There is also high level of acceptance of premarital genotype screening 390 (95.6%), the means score of the participants level of acceptance was 23.4±2.55. Many of the respondents 329 (80.6%) have positive marital decision in case of genotype incompatibility. In conclusion, this study revealed good knowledge, high acceptability of premarital genotype screening and positive marital decision among the respondents. Considering the associated health problem of sickle cell disease, it could be emphasized that imbibing the culture of premarital genotype screening and positive premarital decision by intending couples is the most cost-effective intervention that could end the threat of the sickle cell genetic disorder.

Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Knowledge, Genotype screening, Marital Decision,