Knowledge of sickle cell patients and attitudes and practices relating to the ophthalmological monitoring at the University Hospital of Bouaké (Côte d’Ivoire)

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a potentially blinding haemoglobinopathy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of sickle cell patients relating to the disease and its ocular complications on their adherence to ophthalmological monitoring of sickle cell disease. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study by systematic recruitment of sickle cell patients received for any reason, in the outpatient department of the Bouaké University Hospital, during the study period. Results: Out of 50 sickle cell patients aged from 8 to 71 years (average of 28.12) the male accounted for 52%. Pupils and students were predominant (60%) and the patients from urban areas represented 92% (n=46). The patients with a high level and secondary level of education represented respectively 42.00% (n=21) and 40.00%. The AS forms and the SC forms were the most represented with respectively 34% (n=17) and 42% (n=21). Those who did not know if sickle cell disease could cause ocular damages represented 52.00% (n=26) and among the 21 (42%) who said they knew, those who did not know that the disease could be blinding by its ocular involvement were 15 accounting for (71.43%). The sickle cell sufferers who had never consulted an ophthalmologist as part of the follow-up of the disease represented 74.00% (n=37) and among them, 33 (89.19%) affirmed that the monitoring consultation had never been prescribed to them. Conclusion: Poor health education of the sickle cell patients is an obstacle to their adherence to the ophthalmological monitoring and the prevention of blindness due to sickle cell disease.