Acceptability of prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) by female patients and parents of SCA patients in Nigeria.

Abstract

The acceptability of prenatal diagnosis (PND) of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) as a means of controlling sickle cell disorder in Nigeria was examined using a structured questionnaire. The respondents were comprised of 92 adult female patients with SCA, aged 15-20 (23 +/- 6) years; 53 HbAS mothers, aged 20-61 (37 +/- 11) years and 48 HbAS fathers, aged 33-65 (46 +/- 8) years. More than 85% of the respondents would like PND to be offered in Nigeria and 92% of the HbAS mothers as well as 86% of the fathers would like to have the investigation or allow their wives to go through the procedure, respectively. Only 35% of the patients as compared to 63% of the mothers and 51% of the fathers would opt for termination of an affected pregnancy. Fear of the complications of abortion and religious convictions were the two most frequently cited reasons for opposing pregnancy termination. The high percentage of parents who would opt for termination of an affected pregnancy was associated with the societal emphasis on perfection and on previous experience in management of SCA patients. It is interesting that most of the respondents still favoured effective genetic counselling as the best means of controlling SCA.