Integrating Genetic Literacy with Religious and Cultural Beliefs to Address Sickle Cell Disease Misconceptions in Africa: Findings from Selected Literature
Keywords:
Cultural, Genetic literacy, Sickle cell diseaseAbstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a pervasive public health challenge across Africa, where cultural and religious narratives often attribute the condition to spiritual misfortune or divine judgment. Terms such as “Sikila” (Hausa), “Ahotutuo” (Ashanti), “Abiku” (Yoruba), and “Ogbanje” (Igbo) illustrate how language embeds misconceptions, reinforcing stigma and deterring medical intervention. The aim of this study is to examine how integrating genetic literacy with religious and cultural belief systems can effectively address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and improve understanding of sickle cell disease among communities in Africa. This study adopts a qualitative synthesis approach to examine the intersections of language, religion, and health in shaping understandings of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Nigeria and Ghana. Peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar, supplemented with community-based reports and grey literature, including health ministry publications and NGO reports from Nigeria and Ghana. Cultural and religious interpretations shape perceptions of sickle cell disease (SCD) across West Africa, with terms like Sikila, Abiku, Ogbanje, and Ahotutuo reinforcing stigma and spiritual explanations. Christian and Islamic teachings often foster fatalistic attitudes but can also support compassion and healing. Recent studies show newborn screening is culturally acceptable, while genetic literacy improves counseling. Faith-anchored education, linguistic reframing, and community outreach offer promising strategies for reducing stigma and improving SCD management. Misconceptions about SCD in Africa rooted in cultural terms such as “Abiku”, “Ogbanje”, “Sikila”, and “Ahotutuo”, and in religious interpretations of illness perpetuate stigma and obstruct prevention. However, integrating genetic literacy into religious and cultural frameworks would creates a powerful pathway for change
References
1. Ware RE. Sickle cell disease: A global perspective. Lancet. 2017;390(10091):311–23.
2. World Health Organization. Sickle cell disease in the African region: Current situation and way forward. Geneva: WHO; 2011.
3. Abdullahi A. Cultural perceptions of sickle cell disease in Northern Nigeria. J Afr Health Stud. 2019;12(3):45–56.
4. Soyinka W. Abiku and Yoruba cosmology. J Afr Cult Stud. 1995;8(1):34–42.
5. Achebe C. The world of the Ogbanje. Afr Lit Rev. 1986;5(2):12–20.
6. Dennis-Antwi JA. Sickle cell disease and stigma in Ghana. Afr J Public Health. 2016;8(2):23–30.
7. Kyere P. Religious beliefs and sickle cell disease management in Ghana. Health Relig. 2018;10(1):67–78.
8. Islam M. Islamic perspectives on health and healing. J Relig Health. 2015;54(4):123–34.
9. Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana. Annual report on community health interventions. Accra: SCFG Publications; 2020.
10. Munung NS, Kamga KK, Treadwell MJ, Dennis-Antwi J, Anie KA, Bukini D, et al. Perceptions and Preferences for Genetic Testing for Sickle Cell Disease or Trait: A Qualitative Study in Cameroon, Ghana and Tanzania. European Journal of Human Genetics. 2024;32, 1307-1313.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-024-01553-7
11. King-Kuadzi KE, Ahiatrogah PD, Edoh-Torgah NA Barriers to effective genetic counselling: Exploring nurses' knowledge and cultural competence in Ghana. Int J of Humanity and Soc Sci. 2025;4(2):29–39.
12. Laar A. Cultural beliefs and their influence on sickle cell prevention among young adults in Ghana. Arch Public Health. 2024;82(66):1–12.
