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Assessing the Psychosocial Problems In Parenting Sickle-Cell Children In Enugu.


P F.E. Okwaraji

Abstract

Aim: To assess the psycho social problems encountered in parenting sickle-cell children in Enugu.


Method: The subjects include all parents, guardian, foster parents of sickle cell children who have the responsibility of caring for sickle-cell children and who have attended the sickle-cell clinic of the UNTH between June to August 1999. Data was gathered using a structured questionnaire which tapped information on (a) socio demographic variables (b) psycho social consequences of parenting sickle cell and (c) coping mechanisms adopted by parents in alleviating these psycho social consequences.


Results: There were 72(64%) females and 40(36%)males. Most of the respondents were married(75%), 57% were self employed. Psycho social problems in the areas of marital and interpersonal relationships as well as income and other areas of psycho social functioning were found to be high.


Conclusion: Special psychological services should be rendered to parents with sickle cell children to help reduce the increasing psycho social difficulties associated with parenting these children.


Key words: Psycho social problems; sickle-cell diseases, psychological counseling, parenting.


[Jnl of College of Medicine Vol.7(1) 2002: 21-23]

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eISSN: 1118-2601