Table 2. Feasibility and acceptability of early infant screening for SCD.

Feasibility and acceptability variables	Number of participants (N = 291)	Percentage (%)
Mothers who accepted to be screened for Hb genotype	165	56.7
Children who were accepted to be screened for Hb genotype by mothers)	250	85.9
Reasons for wanting self/child to be screened*
Just to know my genotype and that of my child	231	91.7
Have a child with SCD	3	1.2
Had a child with SCD but late	0	0.0
My spouse and I are both carriers of SCD haemoglobin	3	1.2
The screening is free for me and my child	148	59.0
Other reason	7	3.8
Reasons for not wanting self/child to be screened*
I know my genotype	94	80
I know my child’s genotype	3	2.6
My husband and I are both AA	40	34.5
To avoid being worried	4	3.4
Don’t want my child to be pricked/bled	27	23.3
Will take time for the result to be ready	7	6.1
Do not like free test	3	2.7
Other reasons	8	9.1
Appropriate time a child should be screened for Hb
During pregnancy	38	13.0
Soon after birth	67	23.0
Within the first one-month of birth	105	36.1
Pre-school	43	14.8
Others	20	6.9
Don’t know	18	6.2
Willingness to enrol the child in SCD clinic immediately if SS/SC after testing	283	97.3
Willingness to pay ₦540.00(US$1·50) for rapid screening test	243	83.5
Affordability to pay ₦540.00(US$1·50) for rapid screening test	239	82.1
Willingness to pay ₦7,000.00 (US$20) for confirmatory Hb test)	190	65.3
Affordability to pay ₦7,00.00 (US$20) for confirmatory Hb test	143	49.1
Perceived challenges for early infant screening for Hb*
Cost of the confirmatory test at ₦7,000.00 (US$20)	190	65.3
Availability of test facility	155	53.3
Delay in getting the test result	149	51.2
Availability/accessibility for follow up care	148	50.9
Accessibility to test result	147	50.5
Time committed to counselling and testing	147	50.5
Cost of screening test at ₦540.00(US$1.50)	101	35.3
Fear of knowing the SCD status of the child	86	29.6
Other reasons	22	9.6

* multiple answers applied