Retrospective Perspectives on Premarital Sickle Cell Screening Among Parents of Children Living With Sickle Cell Disease at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

Abstract Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a major public health problem in Nigeria and West Africa. Premarital Counselling and screening (PMC) are effective strategies for preventing the birth of children with SCD; however, their uptake remains suboptimal despite increasing awareness Objective To assess the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices regarding SCD and PMC and to identify factors associated with awareness and uptake of PMC among participants Methods This was a descriptive cross- sectional study involving 80 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of SCD and PMC, attitudes toward PMC and uptake. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Associations between socio-demographic variables, awareness and uptake were tested using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results Awareness of SCD was universal (100%), with the health workers being the main source of information (46.3%). Although 62.5% correctly identified SCD as an inherited condition, only 51.3% has heard of PMC. Sixty percent of participants did not undertake any PMC and 55% did not check their genotype before marriage. Older age (≥ 45 years) was significantly associated with lower uptake of PMC (ꭓ 2 = 7.069, p  = 0.029). Awareness of PMC was strongly associated with uptake (ꭓ 2 =38.557, p  < 0.001). Conclusion Despite high awareness of SCD, awareness and uptake of PMC and screening remain inadequate. Strengthening public health education and integrating PMC into routine reproductive health services are essential to reducing the burden of SCD.