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Okoibhole LO, Ebenso B. A qualitative study on stigma experienced by young adults living with sickle cell disease in Accra, Ghana. Int Health 2023; 15:684-691. [PMID: 36594277 PMCID: PMC10629955 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease (SCD) describes a group of multisystem, genetic and stigmatising blood conditions that are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Health-related stigma is a negative experience or adverse social judgement about a group based on an enduring feature conferred by a particular health problem. Literature shows that stigmatisation is experienced by people with SCD with negative implications on their lives. This study investigated self-reported views and lived experiences of young adults in Accra, Ghana, regarding SCD-related stigma and its impact on their lives. METHODS Data were collected from 19 males and females with SCD using semi-structured individual interviews and focus group discussions. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clark's framework for thematic analysis. RESULTS Five themes were identified: exclusion; status loss; SCD misconceptions; internalised stigma; and stigma and health outcomes. Overall, interpersonal and institutional levels of stigma were evident throughout the data with a lack of public education, limited specialist care and religion acting as determinants of SCD-related stigma. CONCLUSIONS Stigma has detrimental consequences for young adults with SCD. Multilevel stigmatisation of SCD at interpersonal and institutional levels should be addressed through multipronged approaches including increased public education, investment in specialist healthcare and collaboration with socioreligious institutions. Further research is needed to investigate the experiences of young adults in rural Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia O Okoibhole
- Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), Faculty of Population Health Sciences, WC1N 1EH, London, UK
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK
| | - Bassey Ebenso
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK
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Adigwe OP, Onoja SO, Onavbavba G. A Critical Review of Sickle Cell Disease Burden and Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. J Blood Med 2023; 14:367-376. [PMID: 37284610 PMCID: PMC10239624 DOI: 10.2147/jbm.s406196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease is caused by an abnormality of the β-globin gene and is characterised by sickling of the red blood cells. Globally, sub-Saharan African countries share the highest burden of the disease. This study aimed at critically reviewing studies focusing on challenges of sickle cell anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa. A literature search was carried out in five major databases. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were included in the bibliometric review and critical analysis. A majority of the studies were undertaken in the West African region (85.5%), followed by Central Africa (9.1%). Very few studies had been undertaken in East Africa (3.6%), whilst the Southern African region had the fewest studies (1.8%). Distribution in relation to country revealed that three quarters of the studies were carried out in Nigeria (74.5%), followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (9.1%). According to healthcare settings, a strong majority of the studies were undertaken in tertiary health care facilities (92.7%). Major themes that emerged from the review include interventions, cost of treatment, and knowledge about sickle cell disease. Public health awareness and promotion as well as improving the quality of sickle cell centers for prompt management of patients with sickle cell disorder was identified as a critical strategy towards reducing the burden of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve this, governments in countries located in this region need to adopt a proactive strategy in addressing gaps that have been identified in this study, as well as instituting other relevant measures, such as continuous media engagement and public health interventions relating to genetic counselling. Reforms in other areas that can help reduce the disease burden, include training of practitioners and equipping sickle cell disease treatment centers according to World Health Organization specifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obi Peter Adigwe
- Office of the Director General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | - Solomon Oloche Onoja
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Godspower Onavbavba
- Office of the Director General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
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Agbozo WK, Amanor E, Acheampong EO, Kotei B, Attoh LN, Yeboah D, Odonkor P, Obiri S, Kwarteng A, Larbi A. Assessing knowledge of sickle cell disease and health beliefs on premarital genetic screening among healthcare trainees at a tertiary institution: A cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1128. [PMID: 36846532 PMCID: PMC9951192 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The uptake of sickle cell trait (SCT) test is challenged by several factors. A community of healthcare professionals educating the public to undergo screening is critical in reducing the disease burden. We investigated knowledge and attitude towards premarital SCT screening among healthcare trainee students who are the next generation of healthcare practitioners. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, and quantitative data were collected from 451 female students pursuing healthcare programs at a tertiary institution in Ghana. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results More than half of the participants were 20-24 years (54.55%) and had good knowledge (71.18%) about sickle cell disease (SCD). Age and school or social media as sources of information were significantly associated with good knowledge about SCD. Students between the age 20-24 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.54, confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-4.97) and knowledge (AOR = 2.19, CI = 1.41-3.39) were 3 times and 2 times more likely to have a positive perception about SCD severity. Students who have SCT (AOR = 5.16, CI = 2.46-10.82), whose source of information was family member/friends (AOR = 2.83, CI = 1.44-5.59) and social media (AOR = 4.59, CI = 2.09-10.12) were 5 times, 2 times and 5 times likely to have a positive perception about the susceptibility of SCD. Students whose source of information is school (AOR = 2.06, CI = 1.11-3.81) and who have good knowledge of SCD (AOR = 2.25, CI = 1.44-3.52) were 2 times more likely to have a positive perception about the benefits of testing. Students with SCT (AOR = 2.64, CI = 1.36-5.13) and source of information was social media (AOR = 3.01, CI = 1.36-6.64) were about 3 times more likely to have a positive perception about the barriers to testing. Conclusion Our data shows that high level of SCD knowledge influences positive perceptions about the severity of SCD, the benefits and relatively low barriers to SCT or SCD testing and genetic counseling. Dissemination of SCT, SCD and premarital genetic counseling education should be intensified especially in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kwaku Agbozo
- Department of Physician AssistantshipCentral UniversityMiotsoGhana
- West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC)University of GhanaLegon‐AccraGhana
| | - Ernest Amanor
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of ScienceKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Eugene Owusu Acheampong
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Brenda Kotei
- Department of NursingCentral UniversityMiotsoGhana
| | | | - David Yeboah
- Department of Physician AssistantshipCentral UniversityMiotsoGhana
| | - Prince Odonkor
- Department of Physician AssistantshipCentral UniversityMiotsoGhana
| | - Seth Obiri
- Department of Physician AssistantshipCentral UniversityMiotsoGhana
| | - Alexander Kwarteng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of ScienceKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical MedicineKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Amma Larbi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of ScienceKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
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Sims AM, Bonsu KO, Urbonya R, Farooq F, Tavernier F, Yamamoto M, VanOmen S, Halford B, Gorodinsky P, Issaka R, Kpadenou T, Douglas R, Wilson S, Fu C, Canter D, Martin D, Novarra A, Graham L, Sey F, Antwi-Boasiako C, Segbefia C, Rodrigues O, Campbell A. Diagnosis patterns of sickle cell disease in Ghana: a secondary analysis. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1719. [PMID: 34548040 PMCID: PMC8456625 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11794-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite having the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the world, no country in Sub-Saharan Africa has a universal screening program for the disease. We sought to capture the diagnosis patterns of SCD (age at SCD diagnosis, method of SCD diagnosis, and age of first pain crisis) in Accra, Ghana. METHODS We administered an in-person, voluntary survey to parents of offspring with SCD between 2009 and 2013 in Accra as a part of a larger study and conducted a secondary data analysis to determine diagnosis patterns. This was conducted at a single site: a large academic medical center in the region. Univariate analyses were performed on diagnosis patterns; bivariate analyses were conducted to determine whether patterns differed by participant's age (children: those < 18 years old whose parents completed a survey about them, compared to adults: those > = 18 years old whose parents completed a survey about them), or their disease severity based on SCD genotype. Pearson's chi-squared were calculated. RESULTS Data was collected on 354 unique participants from parents. Few were diagnosed via SCD testing in the newborn period. Only 44% were diagnosed with SCD by age four; 46% had experienced a pain crisis by the same age. Most (66%) were diagnosed during pain crisis, either in acute (49%) or primary care (17%) settings. Children were diagnosed with SCD at an earlier age (74% by four years old); among the adults, parents reflected that 30% were diagnosed by four years old (p < 0.001). Half with severe forms of SCD were diagnosed by age four, compared to 31% with mild forms of the disease (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS The lack of a robust newborn screening program for SCD in Accra, Ghana, leaves children at risk for disease complications and death. People in our sample were diagnosed with SCD in the acute care setting, and in their toddler or school-age years or thereafter, meaning they are likely being excluded from important preventive care. Understanding current SCD diagnosis patterns in the region can inform efforts to improve the timeliness of SCD diagnosis, and improve the mortality and morbidity caused by the disease in this high prevalence population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Sims
- Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA. .,Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave MLC 7035, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. .,University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Kwaku Osei Bonsu
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of General Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | | | - Fatimah Farooq
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fitz Tavernier
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Sheri VanOmen
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel Issaka
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Rhonda Douglas
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samuel Wilson
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Clementine Fu
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Duña Martin
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Austin Novarra
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lewis Graham
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fredericka Sey
- Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Catherine Segbefia
- Department of Child Health, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Child Health, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Onike Rodrigues
- Department of Child Health, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew Campbell
- Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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