Ezenwosu OU, Olawepo JO, Lacroix-Willliamson LJ et al.
Pregnancy offers a critical window for maternal and child health interventions, including education on sickle cell disease and newborn screening. This pre-post study evaluated a community-based health education intervention among 89 pregnant women across three communities using the Healthy Beginning Initiative framework, comparing knowledge before and after educational sessions. Post-test results showed substantial gains in knowledge: understanding that sickle cell disease is hereditary rose to 93.3% from 69.7%, comprehension that both parents must carry the gene for a child to be affected rose to 98.9% from 77.5%, and recognition of blood testing as diagnostic rose to 98.8% from 78.7%. Overall high-level knowledge increased from 12.6% to 87.4%. The authors conclude that focused health education for pregnant women delivered through community structures can meaningfully improve knowledge of sickle cell disease and newborn screening.
View Full Paper on BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth