TY - JOUR
T1 - “It Means Everyone Should Know Their Status”: Exploring Lay Concepts of Sickle Cell Trait and Sickle Cell Trait Screening Among African Americans Within Middle Reproductive Age
AU - Mayo-Gamble, Tilicia L.
AU - Barnes, Priscilla A.
AU - Cunningham Erves, Jennifer
AU - Middlestadt, Susan E.
AU - Lin, Hsien Chang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Objective: This study examined the meaning of sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening from the lay perspective of African Americans. Design and Methods: African Americans ( N = 300), ages 18–35 and unaware of their sickle cell trait status, completed two open-ended questions from a larger survey. One question asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait; the other asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait screening. Content analysis occurred in two phases: (1) In vivo and holistic coding; and (2) focused coding. Results: Four categories emerged illustrating lay conceptions of sickle cell trait; (1) Perceived as an illness; (2) Perceived recognition of the inheritance pattern of sickle cell trait; (3) Perceived lack of knowledge of sickle cell trait; and (4) Perceived importance of sickle cell trait. Five categories emerged illustrating lay conceptions for sickle cell trait screening: (1) Perceived recognition that screening means getting tested for sickle cell trait; (2) Perceived lack of knowledge of sickle cell trait screening; (3) Perceived health benefit of sickle cell trait screening; (4) Perceived importance of sickle cell trait screening; and (5) Perceived barriers to sickle cell trait screening. Conclusions: Sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening are concepts that are both regarded as important among this high-risk population. However, there is still misunderstanding concerning the hereditary nature and reproductive implications of sickle cell trait. Interventions seeking to improve communication on the need for sickle cell trait screening should begin by identifying what the population at large understands, knows and/or believes to improve their ability to make informed health decisions.
AB - Objective: This study examined the meaning of sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening from the lay perspective of African Americans. Design and Methods: African Americans ( N = 300), ages 18–35 and unaware of their sickle cell trait status, completed two open-ended questions from a larger survey. One question asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait; the other asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait screening. Content analysis occurred in two phases: (1) In vivo and holistic coding; and (2) focused coding. Results: Four categories emerged illustrating lay conceptions of sickle cell trait; (1) Perceived as an illness; (2) Perceived recognition of the inheritance pattern of sickle cell trait; (3) Perceived lack of knowledge of sickle cell trait; and (4) Perceived importance of sickle cell trait. Five categories emerged illustrating lay conceptions for sickle cell trait screening: (1) Perceived recognition that screening means getting tested for sickle cell trait; (2) Perceived lack of knowledge of sickle cell trait screening; (3) Perceived health benefit of sickle cell trait screening; (4) Perceived importance of sickle cell trait screening; and (5) Perceived barriers to sickle cell trait screening. Conclusions: Sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening are concepts that are both regarded as important among this high-risk population. However, there is still misunderstanding concerning the hereditary nature and reproductive implications of sickle cell trait. Interventions seeking to improve communication on the need for sickle cell trait screening should begin by identifying what the population at large understands, knows and/or believes to improve their ability to make informed health decisions.
KW - Content analysis
KW - Lay perspective
KW - Screening
KW - Sickle Cell Trait
UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2017.1295135
U2 - 10.1080/13557858.2017.1295135
DO - 10.1080/13557858.2017.1295135
M3 - Article
SN - 1355-7858
VL - 23
JO - Ethnicity and Health
JF - Ethnicity and Health
ER -