A recent study has highlighted significant gaps in awareness and adoption of pre-marital screenings for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) among young people in Kenya.
The study by a team of researchers from the University of Nairobi titled “Awareness and Acceptability of Pre-Marital Screening for Sickle Cell Among University Students in Kenya, underscores the need for stringent measures to be taken to increase awareness and literacy on the disease which is a severe autosomal recessive disorder and is most prevalent in people of African descent. It is associated with significant morbidity and premature death.
According to the study, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disorder in Kenya, it is estimated that over 14,000 thousand children are born with SCD annually in Kenya. This makes it a great public health concern in the country and continent at large.
The findings in this study highlight significant shortcomings in awareness and acceptance of pre-marital screening of SCD among young people in Kenya.
According to this study, some of the drivers associated with the gap in awareness and poor uptake of screenings are lack of resources, limited access to supportive therapy and absence of gene therapies.
The study therefore, calls for a call to immediate action to implement educational campaigns that highlight the benefits of pre-marital sickle cell screening. Promoting awareness through media and other communication platforms is crucial to ensure accurate information reaches the youth.
Prevention of SCD through carrier identification and genetic counseling was also found to be the most effective way to lower the occurrence and impact of sickle cell disease. This strategy would optimize the use of scarce resources, particularly in low-income nations where the disease is most common.
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