Background: Sickle cell anaemia remains one of the most common inherited blood disorders and a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria where the disease burden is among the highest globally.
Aim: This study assessed the awareness, knowledge and perceptions regarding sickle cell anaemia among adolescents in selected private secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional school-based study was conducted among 404 adolescents in selected private secondary schools in Port Harcourt. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise the data, while the chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to determine associations and predictors of good knowledge regarding sickle cell anaemia. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings revealed that 91.1% of respondents had heard about sickle cell anaemia, with schools identified as the major source of information (63.0%). Overall, 49.0% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge of sickle cell anaemia, 17.6% had poor knowledge, while perceptions were generally positive. Chi-square analysis showed that good knowledge regarding sickle cell anaemia was significantly associated with class level (p = 0.002), parents’ educational status (p = 0.005), family history of sickle cell anaemia (p < 0.001), and information obtained from health workers (p = 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis identified SSS3 class level, tertiary parental education, family history of sickle cell anaemia, and information obtained from health workers as significant predictors of good sickle cell anaemia knowledge. Conclusion: Awareness of sickle cell anaemia among adolescents was high, but important misconceptions and knowledge gaps still existed. Strengthening school-based health education, adolescent genotype counselling programmes, and public awareness campaigns are recommended to reduce the burden of sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria.