TITLE:
Psychological Experience of Children and Adolescents with Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease in Brazzaville
AUTHORS:
Engoba Moyen, Ghislain Armel Mpandzou, Matimé Julianna Déborah Boukoulou, Josué Euberma Diatewa, Armel Landry Batchi-Bouyou, Paul Macaire Ossou-Nguiét, Georges Moyen
KEYWORDS:
Sickle Cell Disease, Children/Adolescents, Psychological Experience, Brazzaville
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.1,
February
9,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Sickle cell disease, the most frequent hemoglobinopathy, is one of many causes
of psychological repercussions. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychological
disorders in children/adolescents living with sickle cell disease and to
identify the associated factors. Patients and Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2019
at the national sickle cell center and at the mother-child consultation of the University
Hospital of Brazzaville. Children/adolescents aged six to 19 years old followed
for sickle cell disease were included. Psychological disorders were assessed using
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders “DSM-5” which assesses
depression and anxiety disorders, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Brief
Illness Perception Questionnaire which assesses
representations of chronic diseases. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical
analysis. Results: Out of 201 children/adolescents included, a drop in self-esteem was noted:
76.1%, anxiety 29.9%, depression 5.5% and a negative impact on daily life in all
cases. These were significant negative consequences 39.3%. Advanced age, duration
of illness, delay in school and puberty, use
of upper-level analgesics, number of complications and hospitalizations,
and occurrence of complications were associated with psychological disorders. Conclusion: The frequency of psychological disorders during the experience of the child/adolescent living with sickle cell
anemia, requires that education, behaviour
change communication be strengthened in order to improve the quality of care.