Psychologue clinicienne au CHU Campus de Lomé, enseignante-chercheure, Institut National des Sciences de l’Education (INSE), Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
The sickle-cell sickness, a genetically-inherited sickness, is characterized by unpredictable painful outbursts and regular admissions to hospital as well.
This current study aims at exploring its psychological effects on the parents whose children are suffering from the sickle-cell sickness. It was carried out at CHU Sylvanus Olympio, a Teaching Hospital, on ten (10) parents, aged between 20 and 50, thanks to a questionnaire on the (BDI-II) nervous depression inventory scale by Beck and a half-structured administration guidebook.
The results show that parents’ reactions upon the diagnosis announcement are those of surprise, confusion and shock. Next to the discovery of the sickness, the anxiety during the outbursts, the ensuing admissions to hospital and the haunting idea of the child’s death overwhelm parents’ affection mindset. The target ten (10) parents present mild or moderate symptoms of nervous depression. On the whole, all these parents consider the sickle-cell sickness as a dangerous and fatal one, which causes nothing but worries and expenses.
The parents of the children suffering from the sickle-cell sickness are psychologically deeply affected. It is thereby urgent to integrate the psychological aspect in the assistance schemes as regards the issue of the sickle-cell sickness in Togo.