Nigeria, May 9 -- Public health messaging in Nigeria has long encouraged individuals to know their genotype as a key step in preventing sickle cell disorder.

However, emerging evidence suggests that awareness alone has not translated into accurate understanding or informed reproductive decisions.

A 2020 cross-sectional study on genotype awareness among adolescents in south-east Nigeria found that although 94 per cent of respondents knew their genotype, nearly 90 per cent could not correctly estimate the risk of having a child with sickle cell disorder in a carrier couple.

The study also reported that only a small proportion demonstrated high-level knowledge of sickle cell genetics, highlighting a gap between awareness and comprehension...