Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sickle Cell Disease Among Nurses in Resource-Limited Peri-Urban and Rural Settings in Ghana
8 affiliations
- 1Family and Community Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- 3Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- 4Department of Environment and Public Health, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
- 5School of Sociology and Social Policy, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK
- 6Department of Adult Health Nursing, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- 7Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- 8Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
Abstract
Background: While cost-effective interventions are available in developed countries, SCD incidence continues to increase in Ghana. To improve SCD care delivery, nurses, who constitute the majority of the healthcare workforce, must possess adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards SCD. These measures will facilitate the ongoing expansion and progress of Ghana’s newly introduced Free Primary and Healthcare initiative in managing SCD.
Aim: This study examined the SCD knowledge and attitudes towards SCD among nurses in resource-limited peri-urban and rural settings in Ghana.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2022 and September 2022 among 212 nurses in all the health facilities in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana. Pre-tested questionnaires assessing SCD knowledge and attitude were administered to participants. A descriptive analysis was conducted to determine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards SCD. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify the demographic and health facility predictors of nurses’ knowledge of SCD. A two-tailed p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: A total of 56.1% of participants demonstrated good knowledge of SCD. In the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good knowledge were 2.42 times higher among nurses at facilities with diagnostic equipment [aOR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.04-5.64]. Regarding the attitude of nurses towards SCD, the majority of participants (90.6%) were willing to undergo pre-marital genetic counselling. In addition, majority of the nurses (57.1%) were willing to carry their pregnancies to term whiles 23.1% opted to abort despite the known risk of SCD.
Conclusion: The above-average levels of knowledge and attitudes towards SCD have implications for the newly introduced Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, which seems to strengthen the integration of SCD screening and management into primary healthcare services in resource-limited peri-urban and rural communities in Ghana through nurses’ capacity building and improved healthcare equipment.
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BibTeX
@article{ampomah2026knowledge,
title = {{Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sickle Cell Disease Among Nurses in Resource-Limited Peri-Urban and Rural Settings in Ghana}},
author = {Mary Akua Ampomah and Samuel Kwasi Apedo and Shallom Fafali Apetorgbor and Magdalen Adjoa Ayivi and Johne Ohene Gyan and Bright Kwasi Degboy and Robert Kokou Dowou and Mawuli Komla Kushitor and Nuworza Kugbey and Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku and Andrews Adjei Druye and Emmanuel Manu and Kokou Hefoume Amegan-Aho},
journal = {SAGE Open Nursing},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/23779608261489668},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608261489668},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sickle Cell Disease Among Nurses in Resource-Limited Peri-Urban and Rural Settings in Ghana
AU - Mary Akua Ampomah
AU - Samuel Kwasi Apedo
AU - Shallom Fafali Apetorgbor
AU - Magdalen Adjoa Ayivi
AU - Johne Ohene Gyan
AU - Bright Kwasi Degboy
AU - Robert Kokou Dowou
AU - Mawuli Komla Kushitor
AU - Nuworza Kugbey
AU - Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku
AU - Andrews Adjei Druye
AU - Emmanuel Manu
AU - Kokou Hefoume Amegan-Aho
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - SAGE Open Nursing
DO - 10.1177/23779608261489668
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608261489668
AB - Background: While cost-effective interventions are available in developed countries, SCD incidence continues to increase in Ghana. To improve SCD care delivery, nurses, who constitute the majority of the healthcare workforce, must possess adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards SCD. These measures will facilitate the ongoing expansion and progress of Ghana’s newly introduced Free Primary and Healthcare initiative in managing SCD. Aim: This study examined the SCD knowledge and attitudes towards SCD among nurses in resource-limited peri-urban and rural settings in Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2022 and September 2022 among 212 nurses in all the health facilities in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana. Pre-tested questionnaires assessing SCD knowledge and attitude were administered to participants. A descriptive analysis was conducted to determine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards SCD. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify the demographic and health facility predictors of nurses’ knowledge of SCD. A two-tailed p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 56.1% of participants demonstrated good knowledge of SCD. In the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good knowledge were 2.42 times higher among nurses at facilities with diagnostic equipment [aOR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.04-5.64]. Regarding the attitude of nurses towards SCD, the majority of participants (90.6%) were willing to undergo pre-marital genetic counselling. In addition, majority of the nurses (57.1%) were willing to carry their pregnancies to term whiles 23.1% opted to abort despite the known risk of SCD. Conclusion: The above-average levels of knowledge and attitudes towards SCD have implications for the newly introduced Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, which seems to strengthen the integration of SCD screening and management into primary healthcare services in resource-limited peri-urban and rural communities in Ghana through nurses’ capacity building and improved healthcare equipment.
SN - 2377-9608
ER -