Abstract
Sickle cell disease is the commonest genetic disease in Nigeria; among Africans and the generality of the black race. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorder typically inherited from a person’s parents. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The issue of genotype incompatibility among prospective couples, and decisions on marriage in the face of this health condition, can have significant implication on the control of this disease in Nigeria and any other country. HIV epidemic in Nigeria has recorded high numbers in persons living with HIV and deaths related to AIDS. Reports from UNAIDS show that an estimated 1.9 million persons are living with HIV in Nigeria; 1.4% of adults between ages 15 – 49 live with the virus. This statistics suggest that a lot of work is still needed to scale up HIV treatment and prevention services. The church, through religious doctrines and propagation of religious teachings, has a stronghold on the perception and acceptance of lifestyles in our multi-cultural African society. As such, our discourse examines health implications of marriage, with a focus on the viability and utility of premarital medical tests for sickle cell disease and HIV, as a prerequisite for matrimony in the church in Nigeria. Key words : Sickle cell, genotype medical test information, church mediated marital union, ecclesiastical demands DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-6-12 Publication date :June 30 th 2019
Highlights
Marriage is a socially or ritually recognized union between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between the spouse and any resulting biological or adopted children and affinity
According reports from unaids.org, an estimate of 1.9 million persons are living with Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) in Nigeria; 1.4% of adults between ages 15 – 49 live with the virus
Splenic sequestration crisis: Because of its narrow vessels and function in clearing defective red blood cells, the spleen is frequently affected. It is usually infarcted before the end of childhood in individuals suffering from sickle cell anemia. This spleen damage increases the risk of infection from encapsulated organisms; preventive antibiotics and vaccinations are recommended for those lacking proper spleen function
Summary
Allen Nnanwuba Adum Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria Ogochukwu Ekwenchi Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Emeka Odogwu Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Kobimdi Umeh Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Abstract Sickle cell disease is the commonest genetic disease in Nigeria; among Africans and the generality of the black race. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorder typically inherited from a person’s parents. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The issue of genotype incompatibility among prospective couples, and decisions on marriage in the face of this health condition, can have significant implication on the control of this disease in Nigeria and any other country. HIV epidemic in Nigeria has recorded high numbers in persons living with HIV and deaths related to AIDS. Reports from UNAIDS show that an estimated 1.9 million persons are living with HIV in Nigeria; 1.4% of adults between ages 15 – 49 live with the virus. This statistics suggest that a lot of work is still needed to scale up HIV treatment and prevention services. The church, through religious doctrines and propagation of religious teachings, has a stronghold on the perception and acceptance of lifestyles in our multi-cultural African society. As such, our discourse examines health implications of marriage, with a focus on the viability and utility of premarital medical tests for sickle cell disease and HIV, as a prerequisite for matrimony in the church in Nigeria. Key words: Sickle cell, genotype medical test information, church mediated marital union, ecclesiastical demands DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-6-12 Publication date:June 30th 2019
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