Integrating Genetic Literacy with Religious and Cultural Beliefs to Address Sickle Cell Disease Misconceptions in Africa: Findings from Selected Literatures

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a pervasive public health challenge across Africa, where cultural and religious narratives often attribute the condition to spiritual misfortune or divine judgment. Terms such as “Sikila” (Hausa), “Ahotutuo” (Ashanti), “Abiku” (Yoruba), and “Ogbanje” (Igbo) illustrate how language embeds misconceptions, reinforcing stigma and deterring medical intervention. The aim of this study is to examine how integrating genetic literacy with religious and cultural belief systems can effectively address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and improve understanding of sickle cell disease among communities in Africa. This study adopts a qualitative synthesis approach to examine the intersections of language, religion, and health in shaping understandings of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Nigeria and Ghana. Peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar, supplemented with community-based reports and grey literature, including health ministry publications and NGO reports from Nigeria and Ghana. Cultural and religious interpretations shape perceptions of  sickle cell disease (SCD) across West Africa, with terms like Sikila, Abiku, Ogbanje, and Ahotutuo reinforcing stigma and spiritual explanations. Christian and Islamic teachings often foster fatalistic attitudes but can also support compassion and healing. Recent studies show newborn screening is culturally acceptable, while genetic literacy improves counseling. Faith-anchored education, linguistic reframing, and community outreach offer promising strategies for reducing stigma and improving SCD management. Misconceptions about SCD in Africa rooted in cultural terms such as “Abiku”, “Ogbanje”, “Sikila”, and “Ahotutuo”, and in religious interpretations of illness perpetuate stigma and obstruct prevention. However, integrating genetic literacy into religious and cultural frameworks would creates a powerful pathway for change.