Public awareness of sickle cell disease in Bahrain.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies that have assessed patient awareness of the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) indicated a lack of awareness of the disease and possibly a need for more public education. Therefore, we measured public awareness in Bahrain of SCD.


METHODS
The study was conducted from December 2006 to February 2007. A questionnaire was distributed among 2000 persons selected from among the general public. The participants had face-to-face interviews with either a health professional or a trained interviewer.


RESULTS
Most (93%) had heard of SCD and 89% knew that it can be diagnosed by a blood test, but 51% did not know the prevalence of SCD in Bahrain. Eighty-four percent recognized it as a hereditary disorder and 72% said that it can skip generations. Females showed better knowledge than males and married persons seems to know more about SCD than unmarried ones.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a good level of knowledge about SCD among the public, though some of the respondents were confused about the difference between the carrier state of a disease and the disease itself. There is wide acceptance and appreciation of the SCD prevention campaigns being conducted in Bahrain, such as the premarital service and the student screening program.
Al Arrayed
Shaikha
S
Genetics Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain. sarrayed@health.gov.bh
Al Hajeri
Amani
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult