Midwives' and senior student midwives' knowledge of haemaglobinopathies in England

Objective: to examine midwives' and senior student midwives' knowledge concerning sickle-cell anaemia and beta-thalassaemia. Design: survey using the 'Dyson' questionnaires. Setting: study days on 26 sites across England over three months. Participants: 850 questionnaires were completed by a convenience sample of midwives and senior students: 401 on sickle-cell anaemia and 449 on beta-thalassaemia, In each case just under two-thirds were qualified midwives. Measurements and findings: most respondents underestimated the number of ethnic groups affected by these disorders, A majority gave the wrong answers to basic questions on the inheritance of these disorders, fewer than one-third answered two simple genetics questions correctly. Key conclusions: in order to provide an equitable service midwives need more education in this area, particularly after qualification. Implications for education practice: education on haemoglobinopathies was linked with improved knowledge levels and appears most effective when undertaken by counsellors in haemoglobinopathies, Such education should therefore be available, especially to qualified midwives who had not previously received it.