Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy
A Multi-centre Survey of Acceptability of Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria
Obiageli E Nnodu1, Samuel A Adegoke2, Osita U Ezenwosu3
1Department of Haematology & Blood Transfusion, University of Abuja, Abuja, NGA.
Insights
Newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) is highly acceptable in Nigeria. Financial and practical barriers, not social or cultural ones, hinder its widespread implementation for this genetic blood disorder.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent genetic disorder causing significant morbidity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Newborn screening (NBS) programs, coupled with early interventions, effectively reduce SCD burden in developed nations.
- NBS programs are scarce in sub-Saharan Africa, with unclear reasons for limited implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess attitudes toward and acceptability of newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) in Nigeria.
- To explore variations in NBS acceptance across diverse socio-demographic groups.
Main Methods:
- A semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 1,301 respondents in Nigeria.
- Data collection occurred from April to July 2014 across health institutions and university campuses.
- Respondents included healthcare professionals, students, parents of SCD patients, and SCD patients.
Main Results:
- Respondents demonstrated good knowledge of SCD as an inherited blood disorder.
- A significant majority (86%) of respondents supported the implementation of NBS.
- Support for NBS showed statistically significant correlations with age, educational status, and religion.
Conclusions:
- Newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) exhibits high acceptability across Nigeria.
- Financial and practical challenges are identified as the primary barriers to NBS implementation.
- Social and cultural factors do not appear to be significant impediments to NBS acceptance in Nigeria.
Abstract:
Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major genetic disease that manifests early in life and may lead to significant morbidities. One of the health care services that have been effective in reducing the burden of SCD in developed countries is newborn screening (NBS) followed by pneumococcal vaccines, penicillin prophylaxis, and hydroxyurea treatment. Yet, in sub-Saharan African countries, where about 75% of annual affected babies worldwide are born, NBS programmes are largely unavailable. It is not clear whether this is due to technical challenges associated with setting up such programmes, or significant cultural and social barriers to its acceptance in such settings. Objective Our aim was to ascertain the attitudes to and acceptability of NBS in Nigeria among various socio-demographic groups including health professionals, undergraduate students, parents of children with SCD and SCD patients. Methods Data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of SCD and attitude towards NBS were collected using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire from April to July 2014 across 15 health institutions and university campuses in Nigeria. Data were collected from 1,301 respondents across Nigeria. Results There was good knowledge of SCD as an inherited blood disorder. Although 86% of respondents (n = 1,119) supported NBS, there was a statistically significant relationship between support for NBS and age (p = 003), educational status (p = 000) and religion (p = 000). Conclusion This study suggests that there is a good acceptability of NBS across Nigeria. The main barriers to its use are likely to be financial and practical, rather than social or cultural.
