Knowledge and Perception of Students About Premarital Genetic Counselling in University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge and perception of the University of Medical Sciences students about premarital genetic counselling. The study specifically assessed the knowledge of premarital genetic counseling and examined the perception of the University of Medical Sciences students about premarital genetic counseling. The research design employed in this study was descriptive survey design. The research study was carried out among students of University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. The target population for this research study was UNIMED students between the of age 20-35years. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 175 Nursing students in the University. The data was collected through the use of questionnaires design by the researcher to elicit the responses on the knowledge and perception towards premarital genetic counselling. The questionnaire was carefully formulated and was given to experts to review in order to ascertain face and content validity. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by test re-test method which yielded reliability coefficient value of 0.816. The validated questionnaire was administered on the respondents and data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that respondents have strong level of knowledge about premarital genetic counselling and is likely to influence their choice of marital partner if test reveals incompatibility. However, majority of them identified only sickle cell anaemia as the consequence of genetic factor. It was recommended among others that there is need to be consistent in creating awareness about premarital genetic counselling to the youth through the mass media and online programmes