KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF PRIMARY CARETAKERS TOWARDS SICKLE-CELL-ANEMIA IN CHILDREN

The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and b eliefs (KAB) that may influence health seeking behaviour of caretakers of children with sickle cell disease (SCD). A cross-sectional survey was undertaken at Nyanza provincial hospital in Kenya between March an d September 1993 to identify socio-demographic and economic factors th at may influence health seeking behaviour of primary caretakers of chi ldren with SCD, All caretakers accompanying children under the age of 18 years to the Sickle Cell Clinic were eligible, Guardians accompanyi ng children to the clinic were interviewed using pretested questionnai res, An exploratory factor analysis method was used to categorise ques tionnaire items into domains (knowledge, attitude and belief) and to i nvestigate for association between certain socio-demographic factors a nd KAB, Seventy five per cent of the 108 respondents interviewed were mothers and 16.7% fathers, Seventy eight percent knew SCD to be heredi tary while 55% knew how the disease presents in childhood, Only 42% as sociated SCD with increased risk of infection, Many felt severe infect ions are largely preventable and that prevention would reduce their an xiety and illness related costs,. In factor analysis, variables loaded almost exclusively on ''Attitudes'' and ''Beliefs'' factors, Only fam ily size was found to influence caretaker attitudes (p = 0.0095) and b eliefs (p = 0.0034), Education, monthly income, occupation and religio n had no significant influence, The majority of caretakers had good kn owledge and positive attitudes towards SCD in children, Interventions aimed at management of SCD or prevention of its sequelae would be well accepted, Factor analysis is recommended for statistical analysis of KAB data. The effect of family size on attitudes and behaviour needs f urther evaluation.