Knowledge assessment questions Mothers of young infants (n=205), number (%) Mothers of children with SCD (n=181), Number (%) χ2 test
1. Sickle cell disease is caused by (Ans: inheriting genes from both parents) 99 (48.3%) 153 (84.5%) 58.3, P<0.001
2. How many genes must someone inherit to have SCD? (Ans: two, one from their mom, and one form their dad) 87 (42.4%) 137 (75.6%) 43.6, P<0.001
3. Sickle cell disease can cause (Ans: severe debilitating pain, strokes, infections and organ damage) 31 (15.1%) 50 (27.6%) 9.1, P=0.003
4. Sickle cell disease occurs most often in (Ans: people of African descent) 46 (22.4%) 31 (17.1%) 1.7, P=0.192
5. Sickle cell pain can feel worse than (Ans: toothache, severe headache and labour pains) 79 (38.5%) 105 (58.0%) 14.6, P<0.001
6. SCD is a (Ans: blood disorder) 129 (62.9%) 162 (89.5%) 36.6, P<0.001
7. SCD may easily be cured by (Ans: stem cell transplant) 18 (8.8%) 27 (14.9%) 4.7, P=0.94
8. What is the best way to know if someone has SCD? (Ans: with a simple blood test) 97 (47.3%) 147 (81.2%) 47.5, P<0.001
9. At what age does SCD usually start manifesting? (Ans: from 6 – 9 months of age) 38 (18.5%) 76 (42%) 25.4, P<0.001
10. Which of the following are common features in persons with SCD? (Ans: yellow eyes (jaundice), bone pains and low blood level requiring blood transfusion) 55 (26.8%) 111 (61.3%) 46.9, P<0.001
11. Which of the following are forms of SCD (Ans: Hemoglobin SS and SC) 30 (14.6%) 74 (40.9%) 33.8, P<0.001
12. Which of the following combinations of hemoglobin genotypes in marriage will not result in a child with SCD? (Ans: AS/AA) 120 (58.5%) 146 (80.7%) 27.299, P<0.001