{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T06:10:19Z","timestamp":1783923019640,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783900800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a global public health concern with high morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries. Affected children require specialized care, and nurses bear major responsibility for their management. This study assessed nurses\u2019 knowledge of SCD and their attitudes and practices towards its management in the pediatric unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This hospital-based cross-sectional study randomly sampled 147 nurses caring for SCD clients from February to April 2024. Data was analyzed using SPSS and STATA. Multiple linear regression identified factors associated with SCD management practices (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f\u2264\u202f0.05).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      In all, most respondents (55.8%) demonstrated low SCD knowledge, despite 90.5% knew SCD is caused by genetic mutation. Mean attitude score was 24.40\u202f\u00b1\u202f5.30 (range 12\u201340); 36.1% agreed that clients with SCD are sometimes perceived as drug-seeking. Age (\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.32,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.013), knowledge level (\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f1.75,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.001), and attitudes (\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f\u22120.21,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.006) were associated with practice.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Nurses demonstrated low SCD knowledge, neutral attitudes, and good practices. Age and knowledge positively associated with practice, while attitudes showed negative association. These deficiencies may adversely affect client outcomes. Training workshops and behavior change communication across the nursing fraternity could improve SCD management practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1811313","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T05:33:23Z","timestamp":1783920803000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sickle cell disease knowledge, attitudes, and management practices among nurses in northern Ghana: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Mubaric","family":"Yakubu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]},{"name":"Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology","place":["Kumasi, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yula","family":"Salifu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah Damten","family":"Kombian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pediatric Nursing Specialist Program, Ghana College of Nurses\u2019 and Midwives\u2019","place":["Accra, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdul-Sabur Mohammed","family":"Suglo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Behavioral Change, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Torjim","family":"Salifu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph","family":"Lasong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruth Nimota","family":"Nukpezah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preventive Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies","place":["Tamale, Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"11641","article-title":"Educational needs of school nurses regarding the evidence-based management of sickle cell 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