TITLE:
Knowledge and Practices of Health Providers on the Diagnosis and Biological Monitoring of Sickle Cell Disease in the City of Kindu, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Antoine Lufimbo Katawandja, Aimé Abdala Kingwengwe, Etienne Shindano Mwamba
KEYWORDS:
Sickle Cell Anemia, Knowledge, Practices, Diagnosis, Biological Monitoring
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.9,
September
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The diagnosis of sickle cell disease is clinical and biological. It is possible to reduce the morbidity and mortality linked to sickle cell disease thanks to regular clinical and biological monitoring. The objective of this study is to determine the level of knowledge and practices of health providers on the biological diagnosis and biological monitoring of homozygous sickle cell disease in the city of Kindu. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out between June 04, 2018 and July 28, 2108 with 45 health providers in three structures in the town of Kindu chosen on the basis of a multistage survey. Result: The study showed that the level of knowledge of those surveyed about sickle cell diagnostic tests as well as that of follow-up sickle cell disease biological tests was considered to be poor. In 68.8% of cases, the respondents in this study recognize that there is no formal unit specializing in the follow-up of sickle cell children within their respective structures and that 53.3% of them do not have prescribed the search for sickle cell anemia by screening in the prenuptial assessment against only 6.7%. Conclusion: This study shows that there are shortcomings in the diagnosis and monitoring of sickle cell children in the city of Kindu. The role of the doctor, the nurse and the laboratory technician is fundamental in both primary and secondary prevention of sickle cell anemia.