Knowledge and Awareness of Sickle Cell Disease Among Premarital Screening Participants in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A...

Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common hereditary blood diseases in Saudi Arabia. A premarital screening program is obligatory to be done before couples get married in Saudi Arabia. Our aim in this study is to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of SCD among individuals performing the premarital screening program in Makkah city. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 390 adults in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, who were planning to get married, from August to December 2025. The electronic questionnaire collected sociodemographic data, as well as knowledge and awareness regarding the premarital screening program for SCD. Results A total of 390 participants participated, with the majority aged 18-29 years (51.0%), male (66.2%), single (75.1%), urban inhabitants (95.1%), and bachelor's degree holders (59.2%). Even while 69.7% of respondents had heard of SCD, only 23.6% of them showed a strong understanding, and 76.4% had poor overall knowledge. Although 62.3% acknowledged blood testing as a diagnostic tool and 57.2% recognized SCD as hereditary, there were significant gaps in knowledge regarding inheritance risk, complications (63.1% insufficient knowledge), and crisis management (61.3% unaware). The majority of individuals thought premarital screening lowers the probability of the disease (68.2%) and were aware that it included SCD testing (68.7%). If both couples were carriers, the majority (86.4%) were against marriage. Better knowledge was substantially correlated with higher education (p=0.025), marital status (p=0.025), female gender (p=0.013), and healthcare practitioners as an information source (p=0.001). Conclusion Despite positive attitudes toward premarital screening in Makkah city, participants showed poor knowledge of SCD, especially regarding inheritance, complications, and management. Awareness was higher among women, married individuals, the highly educated, and those informed by healthcare providers. Standardized counseling and targeted education are essential to improve understanding of genetic risks.