title: Knowledge gaps, attitude and beliefs of the communities about sickle cell disease in Eastern and Western Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of sickle cell disease (SCD) has remained insurmountable in developing countries such as Uganda, because most communities are not aware of it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine knowledge gaps, attitudes and beliefs of the communities about sickle cell disease in Eastern and Western Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The districts of Sironko and Mbale in Eastern Uganda and Mbarara and Ntungamo in Western Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  Households, students and health workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Household respondents from Eastern Uganda were more aware of SCD than those from Western (p < 0.001), with the majority reporting that they had seen more people with SCD in their communities than those from the West (p < 0.001). Fewer (< 1.9%) believed SCD was due to witch craft. Eight per cent of household respondents in Eastern believed it was a curse from God compared to 2% in the West. Less than 18% of the household respondents knew they could have children with SCD and (< 52%) of health workers knew SCD screening methods. Fewer (< 14%) of the health workers had participated in screening. Less than 20% of the respondents knew their sickle cell status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondents from Eastern Uganda were more aware of SCD than those from Western. Minority of the respondents knew their SCD status and few health staff knew how to screen it. There is need to sensitise communities and policy makers about prevention, screening and treatment of SCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Okwi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Byarugaba
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ndugwa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ocaido
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tumwine
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014454:Uganda