Mothers of young infants (n=205), mumber (%)	Mothers of children with SCD (n=181), number (%)	Statistical test
Age (years):			Fisher’s exact test
16–25	48 (23.4)	5 (2.8)	133.73, P< 0.001
26–35	131 (63.9)	61 (33.7)
36–45	24 (11.7)	87 (48.1)
> 45	0 (0)	26 (14.4)
Marital status:			Fisher’s exact test
Single	2 (1.0)	5 (2.8)	10.48, P=0.008
Married	203 (99.0)	168 (92.8)
Divorced	0 (0)	2 (1.1)
Widowed	0 (0)	1 (0.6)
Separated	0 (0)	5 (2.8)
Number of children:			Pearson χ2
1–2 children	135 (65.8)	55 (30.4)	50.4, P < 0.001
3–4 children	63 (30.7)	101 (55.8)
5–6 children	7 (3.4)	24 (13.3)
Level of education:			Pearson χ2
<Senior secondary	33 (16.1)	38 (21.0)	2.88, P=0.242
Senior secondary	91 (44.4	66 (36.5)
Tertiary	81 (39.5	76 (42.0)
Spouse’s level of education:			Pearson χ2
<Senior secondary	11 (5.4)	22 (12.2)	7.429, P=0.025
Senior secondary	87 (42.4)	60 (33.3)
Tertiary	107 (52.2	98 (54.4)
Religion:			Pearson χ2
Christianity	104	98	0.543, P=0.474
Islam	100	81