Level of awareness of genetic counselling in Lagos, Nigeria: its advocacy on the inheritance of sickle cell disease
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Date
2007-12-17
Authors
Adeyemo, O. A.
Omidiji, O.
Shabi, O. A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Biotechnology
Abstract
A descriptive analysis of reported cases of sickle cell disease and the level of awareness about genetic
counselling in 30 hospitals were carried out. Additionally, 150 individuals between ages 16 - 45 were
randomly selected for evaluation of genetic counselling awareness. The main tools for this study were
questionnaires, which were taken to hospitals, and individuals completed the others. The numbers of
reported cases of sickle cell disease recorded in private, public and teaching hospitals were 14 and 57;
143 and 89; 272 and 57 for the periods of 1995 - 2000 and 2001 – 2005, respectively. A general informal
genetic counselling took place mostly occasionally in the hospitals visited. 122 (86%) individuals have
had the knowledge of genetic disease and only 43 (30.3%) individuals have been exposed to genetic
counselling. 64% of individuals agreed that genetic counselling would help in the prevention of genetic
disease.
Description
Keywords
Sickle disease, genetic counseling, genetic testing, advocacy
Citation
Adeyemo, O A., Omidiji, O. O. and Shabi, O. A. 2007. Level of awareness of genetic counselling in Lagos, Nigeria: its advocacy on the inheritance of sickle cell disease. African Journal of Biotechnology. 6 (24): 2758 – 2765.