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Effect of Genetic Counselling Education on Knowledge of Hereditary Health Conditions among Couples in Nigeria

Abstract

Hereditary health conditions remain an important public health concern in Nigeria because genetic factors may contribute to the occurrence and transmission of conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and other inherited disorders. Couples may have limited knowledge of how hereditary conditions are transmitted, the importance of family medical history, genetic testing, carrier status, and available reproductive and medical options. Misconceptions about inherited conditions may contribute to stigma, delayed genetic assessment, uninformed reproductive decisions, and inadequate preparation for the possibility of hereditary health conditions within families. Genetic counselling education provides an opportunity to improve couples' understanding of genetic inheritance, risk factors, carrier status, genetic testing, and available preventive and supportive options. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of genetic counselling education on knowledge of hereditary health conditions among couples in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Planned Behavior. The Health Belief Model explains how couples' perceptions of susceptibility to hereditary conditions, perceived severity, perceived benefits of genetic counselling and testing, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action may influence their knowledge and health-related decisions. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes observational learning, social support, self-efficacy, reinforcement, and environmental factors in shaping health knowledge and behaviours. The Theory of Planned Behavior emphasizes attitudes toward genetic counselling and testing, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and behavioural intentions as factors influencing couples' health decisions. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how genetic counselling education may influence knowledge of hereditary health conditions among couples in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise married couples or couples preparing for marriage aged 18 years and above in selected communities, healthcare facilities, marriage counselling centres, and other appropriate settings across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, healthcare facilities, counselling centres, and eligible couples. Genetic counselling education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to genetic counselling sessions, frequency and duration of education, information on hereditary health conditions, genetic inheritance patterns, family medical history, carrier status, genetic risk, genetic testing, premarital screening, reproductive options, prevention and early management of inherited conditions, available genetic counselling services, and misconceptions surrounding hereditary diseases. Knowledge of hereditary health conditions will be assessed using indicators such as couples' ability to identify inherited conditions, understand basic genetic inheritance, recognize the role of carrier status, understand the importance of family history, identify conditions for which genetic or carrier testing may be relevant, understand the purpose and limitations of genetic testing, recognize potential hereditary risks within families, and identify appropriate sources of professional genetic information. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, standardized genetic-health knowledge assessment tools, scenario-based questions, and pre-test and post-test assessments where a quasi-experimental intervention is adopted. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize couples' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, marital or premarital status, family health histories, previous exposure to genetic information, sources of health information, and knowledge of hereditary health conditions. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, paired and independent t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of genetic counselling education on knowledge of hereditary health conditions. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, knowledge scores before and after the educational intervention may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that genetic counselling education has a significant positive effect on knowledge of hereditary health conditions among couples in Nigeria. Couples exposed to structured, accurate, culturally sensitive, and professionally guided genetic counselling education are expected to demonstrate greater knowledge of hereditary conditions than couples without comparable exposure. Education may improve understanding of genetic inheritance, carrier status, family medical history, genetic testing, and the likelihood of transmitting certain inherited conditions to children. It may also correct misconceptions and reduce stigma associated with hereditary health conditions. Improved knowledge may encourage couples to seek appropriate professional genetic counselling and testing where indicated and to make informed health and reproductive decisions. However, limited access to genetic counselling services, financial barriers, low availability of genetic professionals, cultural beliefs, stigma, misinformation, and fear of genetic test results may reduce the effectiveness of education alone. The study therefore expects accessible, accurate, culturally appropriate, non-directive, and sustained genetic counselling education to contribute significantly to improved knowledge of hereditary health conditions among couples in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on genetic counselling, hereditary health conditions, genetic health education, carrier screening, genetic testing, premarital health services, reproductive health, family health, health literacy, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, healthcare facilities, genetic counselling centres, medical geneticists, genetic counsellors, marriage counselling organizations, religious and community organizations, public health practitioners, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving genetic-health literacy. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding access to genetic counselling education, strengthening awareness of hereditary health conditions, improving availability of appropriate genetic testing and counselling services, integrating genetic-health education into relevant premarital and primary healthcare programmes, addressing misconceptions and stigma, and developing sustainable interventions that promote informed family health decisions among couples across Nigeria.

Keywords: Genetic counselling education, hereditary health conditions, couples, genetic health knowledge, genetic inheritance, carrier status, genetic testing, premarital health, reproductive health, health education, Nigeria, public health.