Original Article
Premarital Counseling and Screening Awareness and Perception among Alfajr College for Science and Technology
Medical Students, Khartoum, Sudan, 2021
Dalal A.E. Omer*1, Alaa K.I. Mohamed2, Egbal A. B. Abukaraig3
1Teaching Assistant, Physiology Department, Alfajr College
for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
2 Lecturer, community medicine
department, Alfajr College
for Science and
Technology, Khartoum,
Sudan
3Director of the Research and Development Centre,
Alfajr College for Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
*Corresponding author
Dalal A.E. Omer, BSc Nursing (Hon), MBBS,
Diploma of Leadership, Teaching Assistant, Physiology, Alfajr College for
Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. Email: omerdalal2@gmail.com.
Abstract
Background: Premarital counseling and screening is an intervention that helps couples to start a healthy marital
life. The screening involves
examinations and tests that are performed before marriage
to detect certain genetic blood disorders and infectious diseases to prevent
and decrease the incidences of these conditions.
Aim: To assess the awareness and perception of premarital
counseling and screening among Alfajr College for Science and Technology
medical students in 2021.
Method: The study
was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, institutional- based study conducted in Alfajr College for
Science and Technology medical students, Khartoum, Sudan.
The calculated sample size was 300 students. They were
distributed by stratified sampling technique between
medical students from levels 2 to 5. The study collected
data from medical students registered at the College through telephone
interview using an adapted questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the
socio-demographic characteristics, student awareness about premarital
counseling and screening program’s components,
importance, time and sources of their awareness as well as the perception of
the students regarding the program in form of their beliefs and willingness to practice and advocate for the program.
Data was analyzed
using SPSS software version
16.0. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used. Ethical considerations
were observed throughout the study.
Results: A 100% response rate was obtained
from the targeted
students. Participants who had
an idea about Premarital Counseling and Screening constituted 78.7% of the
sample. The commonest source of information (49.6%) was social media, followed
by college staff (27.1%) and friends (22%).The health care services were the least
common source of information (1.3%).
Two-thirds of the study participants knew the importance of Premarital Counseling and Screening. The knowledge score was high in 36.7% of the participants, moderate in 34%and low in 29.3%. There was a statistically significant association between the knowledge score and age (p-value <.0001) which indicates that young age students need to be addressed to increase their awareness. Also, there was a statistically significant association between knowledge score, willingness to practice and advocacy for Premarital Counseling and Screening (p. value< .0001). Furthermore, the study showed equal (50%) positive and negative perception scores despite the majority (71.3%) of the students believed that the Premarital Counseling and Screening is important.
Conclusion: knowledge
is a strong determinant of students’ willingness to practice
Premarital Counseling and Screening. Moreover, knowledge score was significantly
associated with the student's willingness to advocate for the program.
In this regard, comprehensive and broadly scaled
health education programs should address Premarital Counseling and Screening
among young adults who are the targeted population to benefit from such
programs. The study also indicates that health education programs can be best delivered
through social media to young
population.
Keywords: premarital counseling, premarital screening, perception,
awareness, medical student.
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