Awareness, acceptability and factors associated with newborn screening for sickle cell disease among pregnant women in a Northern Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Introduction Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD), with less than 50% of affected children surviving beyond their fifth year. Nigeria is the most endemic country for SCD. Newborn screening (NBS) for SCD enables early diagnosis and enrollment in comprehensive management programs. However, NBS for SCD is not yet widely available in Nigeria. The success of NBS programs depends on awareness and acceptability among key stakeholders, such as pregnant women. Objectives This study aims to determine the awareness and acceptability of NBS among pregnant women and to identify factors associated with their awareness and willingness to participate. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 attendees of the antenatal clinic at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, and acceptability of NBS were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, with Fisher’s exact test used to assess associations between variables. A p-value of