Abstract
In a localized attempt to address the inevitable status of Nigeria as the biggest host of patients of sickle cell anaemia, the Delta state government sponsored a media centered initiative to attract public attention to sickle cell disease as well as to the victims of the disorder. This study examined the influence of the media advocacy campaign on youth’s awareness, knowledge and attitude to the disease using the questionnaire survey method involving 300 participants randomly selected from the capital city, Asaba. The results showed that demographic variables such as age, gender, income and religious affiliations had varying influence on awareness, knowledge and attitude of respondents. Although respondents exhibited modest awareness and knowledge of the disorder, it emerged that they arrived at this level of knowledge through information acquired from sources other than the state sponsored media campaign on sickle cell. The study concluded that the media advocacy campaign on sickle cell disorder was yet to resonate with the target population.
Highlights
Sickle cell is a genetic disorder characterized by gene mutation which changes the molecular haemoglobin by stiffening the red blood cells and giving it sickle shape when oxygen is released into the blood vessels
In a localized attempt to address the inevitable status of Nigeria as the biggest host of patients of sickle cell anaemia, the Delta state government sponsored a media centered initiative to attract public attention to sickle cell disease as well as to the victims of the disorder
The study showed that age inversely influenced level of awareness as the older the participants get, the less aware they are of sickle cell disease, the less their knowledge about sickle cell disease and the less they exhibited a sympathetic attitude towards sickle cell disease
Summary
Sickle cell is a genetic disorder characterized by gene mutation which changes the molecular haemoglobin by stiffening the red blood cells and giving it sickle shape when oxygen is released into the blood vessels. These sickle-shaped cells get caught in the narrow blood vessels, blocking the flow of oxygenated blood which results in painful crisis in the joints and bones of those affected. Due to the inadequacies of the healthcare system in Nigeria, only five percent of children with the disease live past the age of 10.The average life span of a sickle cell carrier is 20 years (Akinsete, 2016; Alege, 2015)
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