Impact of educational intervention on the awareness and practice of genetic screening and counseling among young adults in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State

Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of a targeted educational intervention on the awareness and practice of genetic screening and counseling among young adults in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State. Materials and Methods: Participants (aged 18–45) were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving structured health education or a control group receiving general health information. Stratified randomization was used between the groups. A sample size of 340 participants was recruited to detect a 20% difference in outcomes with 80% power. Data were collected using prevalidated questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. The intervention consisted of three weekly 90-min educational sessions covering genetics, the benefits of screening, and practical guidance on accessing genetic services. The primary outcomes were changes in awareness and practices related to genetic screening, with secondary outcomes focusing on attitudes and intentions toward genetic counseling. Results: Findings revealed that awareness of genetic screening was higher in the intervention group, with 65.9% of participants aware of early detection, compared to 59.4% in the control group, although the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.23). In terms of practice, 42.9% of the intervention group and 40.0% of the control group engaged in genetic screening programs, with no significant difference ( P = 0.57). Logistic regression analysis highlighted that age, educational level, and knowledge of teratogens were significant predictors of genetic screening awareness. Participants aged 36 years and above were 1.52 times more likely to be aware (odds ratio [OR] =1.52, P = 0.003), and those with tertiary education had nearly double the likelihood of awareness (OR = 1.96, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of targeted education in improving genetic screening awareness.