The Psychosocial Effects of Sickle Cell Anaemia Among Couples in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The function of the normal red blood cell is to transport oxygen with the help of haemoglobin while, sickle-shaped red blood cells are dehydrated, rigid and fragile causing blockage small blood vessels leading to vaso- occlusion, intravascular hemolysis and series of life threatening disorders [1]. The inheritance of homozygous sickle haemoglobin (HbS) is in accord with Mendelian laws. According to Mendelian laws, if carriers (AS) marry each other they will probably produce a sickler (SS) in ratio 1(SS): 2(AS): 1(AA) [2]. This is a descriptive study among secondary school teachers aiming at their knowledge level and specifically identifies the Socioeconomic effects of sickle cells diseased (SCD) on couples. Three hundred (300) participants were selected using simple random sampling Technique. The study instruments are a pre tested, validated, self-administered structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20; results were presented in tables and percentages. The results show that participants have good knowledge on SCD (83.3%), while 50% knows that it is an inherited blood disorders, 66.67 % knows that it can be detected via blood test. Majority of the respondents (93%) affirmed that genotype can influence their choice of partners to marry despite love and affection towards their partners. The study recommends more public health education and training to enable patients to receive optimum care for the treatment and prevention of SCD and more specialist centers should be established in high-risk communities.