PURPOSE: Little is known about physician's knowledge of, and attitudes toward genetics in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Survey of 101 pre-clinical, 95 clinical medical students, and 110 physicians, in Cameroon. RESULTS: The awareness of DNA diagnosis was poor: 0, 2.2, and 1.2%, respectively, for sickle cell anemia. The majority of the respondents considered genetic counseling as indispensable (97.6, 98.9 and 100%); and prenatal diagnosis as acceptable. The acceptance of medical abortion increased with the level of medical education (62.6, 74.7 and 90.7%). Sickle cell anemia was considered as a "serious disease" by a greater majority of respondents than Down syndrome (P < 0.001). But, in all three groups, the acceptance of termination of affected pregnancy "if the respondent's own child was affected" was lower for sickle cell anemia than Down syndrome (22.4 versus 40.2%, 10.8 versus 29.3% and 36.1 versus 70.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a poor knowledge of genetic tests among medical students and physicians. This cohort appears to accept the principles of medical genetics. Our data emphasized a need to introduce genetics and to develop research on its ethical and social implications in Cameroon.
PURPOSE: Little is known about physician's knowledge of, and attitudes toward genetics in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Survey of 101 pre-clinical, 95 clinical medical students, and 110 physicians, in Cameroon. RESULTS: The awareness of DNA diagnosis was poor: 0, 2.2, and 1.2%, respectively, for sickle cell anemia. The majority of the respondents considered genetic counseling as indispensable (97.6, 98.9 and 100%); and prenatal diagnosis as acceptable. The acceptance of medical abortion increased with the level of medical education (62.6, 74.7 and 90.7%). Sickle cell anemia was considered as a "serious disease" by a greater majority of respondents than Down syndrome (P < 0.001). But, in all three groups, the acceptance of termination of affected pregnancy "if the respondent's own child was affected" was lower for sickle cell anemia than Down syndrome (22.4 versus 40.2%, 10.8 versus 29.3% and 36.1 versus 70.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a poor knowledge of genetic tests among medical students and physicians. This cohort appears to accept the principles of medical genetics. Our data emphasized a need to introduce genetics and to develop research on its ethical and social implications in Cameroon.
Authors: Li Qun He; Lucy Njambi; Joseph M Nyamori; Emmanuel M Nyenze; Kahaki Kimani; Ibrahim Matende; Hilary Rono; Victor Njom; James Bett; Mukiri Mukuria; Muchai Gachago; Helen Roberts; Helen Dimaras Journal: Public Health Genomics Date: 2014-07-19 Impact factor: 2.000
Authors: Konstantinos Mitropoulos; Hayat Al Jaibeji; Diego A Forero; Paul Laissue; Ambroise Wonkam; Catalina Lopez-Correa; Zahurin Mohamed; Wasun Chantratita; Ming Ta Michael Lee; Adrian Llerena; Angela Brand; Bassam R Ali; George P Patrinos Journal: Hum Genomics Date: 2015-06-18 Impact factor: 4.639