This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between climate change concerns and sickle cell disease (SCD) screening intentions among 392 single individuals (aged 14 - 35) in Kinshasa, DRC. Data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from a previous study, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The study found that knowledge about SCD, heat stress, exposure to extreme weather events, and climate change anxiety were significantly associated with SCD screening intentions. It highlights the importance of raising awareness about the disease, the effects of climate change, and then the psychological dimension in order to facilitate resilience in the face of this change, and thus improve the intention to screen for different pathologies and sickle cell disease in particular.
Cite this paper
Atuba, P. M. , Mangbala, D. E. , Andjelani, A. N. , Egango, S. M. , Lofandjola, J. M. and Tshimungu, F. K. (2025). Climate Change Concerns and Sickle Cell Disease Screening Intention among Singles Living in Kinshasa, DRC. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e3047. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113047.
UNEP (2021) Global Temperature Rises Are Alarming.
https://www.unep.org/fr/actualites-et-recits/recit/laugmentation-
des-temperatures-mondiales-est-alarmante#:~:text=2016%2C%202019%2
0et%202020%20sont,'%C3%A8re%20pr%C3%A9industrielle%20(1880)
Camp-bell-Lendrum, D., Neville, T., Schweizer, C. and Neira, M. (2023) Climate Change and Health: Three Grand Challenges. Na-ture Medicine, 29, 1631-1638. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02438-w
Wade, R. (2023) Climate Change and Healthcare: Creating a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Health Delivery System. Journal of Healthcare Management, 68, 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1097/jhm-d-23-00096
Baugh, J., Kemen, K., Messervy, J. and Biddinger, P. (2021) Be-yond the Hazard Vulnerability Analysis: Preparing Health Systems for Climate Change. Rhode Island Medical Journal, 104, 55-59.
Clarke, K.A., Moussa, M., Hall, M.A.K. and Shin, Y.M. (2024) Length of Stay, Readmission Rates, and Mortality Are Similar between Hospitalized Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease with and without COVID-19. Cureus, 16, e70567. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.70567
Habara, A. and Steinberg, M.H. (2016) Minireview: Genetic Basis of Heterogeneity and Severity in Sickle Cell Disease. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 241, 689-696. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370216636726
Igbineweka, N.E. and van Loon, J.J.W.A. (2024) Gene-Environmental Influence of Space and Microgravity on Red Blood Cells with Sickle Cell Disease. npj Genomic Medicine, 9, Article No. 44. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41525-024-00427-7
Kolber, P. and Krüger, R. (2019) Gene-Environment Interaction and Men-delian Randomisation. Revue Neurologique, 175, 597-603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2019.04.010
Obeagu, E.I. and Obeagu, G.U. (2024) Implications of Climatic Change on Sickle Cell Anemia: A Review. Medicine, 103, e37127. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000037127
Oluwole, E.O., Okoye, C.D., Ogunyemi, A.O., Olowoselu, O.F. and Oyedeji, O.A. (2022) Knowledge, Attitude and Premarital Screening Practices for Sickle Cell Dis-ease among Young Unmarried Adults in an Urban Community in Lagos, Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal, 42, Article 8. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2022.42.8.27705
Bila-Isia, I. (2023) Questions of Purpose and Attachment to Life in Time of Biodiversity Erosion and Global Climate Change. Congo-Afrique, No. 579, 1001-1012.
Oludarei, G.O. and Ogili, M.C. (2013) Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Premarital Counseling for Sickle Cell Disease among Youth in Yaba, Nige-ria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 17, 175-182.
Olakunle, O.S., Kenneth, E., Olakekan, A.W. and Adenike, O. (2013) Knowledge and Attitude of Secondary School Students in Jos, Nigeria on Sickle Cell Disease. Pan African Medical Journal, 15, Article 127. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.15.127.2712
National Center for Atmospheric Science (2023) Why Is Climate Important? NCAS Fairbairn House 71-75 Clarendon Road Leeds LS2 9PH. https://ncas.ac.uk/learn/why-is-climate-important/
Ebi, K.L., Vanos, J., Baldwin, J.W., Bell, J.E., Hondula, D.M., Errett, N.A., et al. (2021) Extreme Weather and Climate Change: Population Health and Health System Implications. Annual Review of Public Health, 42, 293-315. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-012420-105026
Giudice, L.C., Llamas‐Clark, E.F., DeNicola, N., Pandipati, S., Zlatnik, M.G., Decena, D.C.D., et al. (2021) Climate Change, Women’s Health, and the Role of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Leadership. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 155, 345-356. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13958
Zandalinas, S.I., Fritschi, F.B. and Mittler, R. (2021) Global Warming, Climate Change, and Environmental Pollution: Recipe for a Multifactorial Stress Combination Disaster. Trends in Plant Science, 26, 588-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2021.02.011
Marten, R., Yangchen, S., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Prats, E.V., Neira, M.P. and Ghaffar, A. (2020) Climate Change: An Urgent Priority for Health Policy and Systems Research. Health Policy and Planning, 36, 218-220. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa165
WHO (2024) Heat and Health.
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-
change-heat-and-health#:~:text=Heat%20stress%20is%20the%20t
ransmission%20of%20some%20infectious%20diseases
Sisco, M.R., Bosetti, V. and Weber, E.U. (2017) When Do Ex-treme Weather Events Generate Attention to Climate Change? Climatic Change, 143, 227-241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017-1984-2
Senn, N., Gaille, M., Del Rio Carral, M. and Holguera, G. (2022) Health and Environment: Towards a New Global Approach. RMS éditions Médecine et Hygiène.