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Psychology Impact Of Living With Sickle Cell Anaemia
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
The problem of
sickle cell anaemia is in different faces. In this work we are looking
at the social aspect of the sickle cell anaemia or the psychological
assault of people living with sickle cell anaemia. People does not see
them as normal, majority of the people see people with sickle cell
anaemia as a working corpse that can die at any time.
1.1 Background of study
The
condition of having sickle cell disease will be defined as occurring in
one or the other of the two following states: (1) sickle cell anemia-a
severe, uncorrectable, and often fatal anemia with many clinical
manifestations, and (2) sickle cell trait--a relatively benign condition
with symptomatology occurring only under extraordinary circumstances.
Hemoglobin
functions as the oxygen carrying substance of the blood, and is
responsible for the pigmentation of the erythrocytes or red blood cells.
The condition of sickle cell anemia results from the presence of an
abnormal hemoglobin, known as Hb-S, in the erythrocytes. The presence of
this hemoglobin is hypothesized to have been an asset in protecting·
its bearer from the effects of malaria in those countries where the
occurrence of malaria is common. In 1964, A. C. Allison (Levitan and
Montagu 1971), proposed, that the· heterpgygote AS was less susceptible·
than the normal homozygotes to Falciparum malaria, an often fatal·
malaria constantly reinfecting its victims with severe and prolonged
disease.
However, for that segment of the population carry in the
abnormal hemoglobins, but residing in no malaria environments, the
advantage of hemoglobin S disappears.
In the United States, sickle
cell anemia is found predominantly Wintrobe (1967), the "frequency of
occurrence of sickle cell trait is 8.5 per cent of the black population.
Approximately one out of four hundred blacks (National Sickle Cell
Prevention Act, 1971) experiences the anemia itself. The incidence of
the disease in other races is quite rare, and when it does occur in
members of other races, it is usually experienced by persons of Greek,
Italian, East Indian, South American and Middle Eastern origins.
Clinical Manifestations
Sickle
cell anemia has been referred to as "the great mimicry" due to the
'multiphasic manifestations and complexities of its symptoms.
Consequently, the risk of incorrect early diagnosis is high. (Lin-Fu
1965)
In infants, symptomatology, particularly in the first few
months of life, is bizarre and non-specific'. Major complaints 'usually
include colic, failu~e to thrive, jaundice, nausea and vomiting,
recurrent fever, and swelling in hands and feet.
In older children,
periodic occurrences of acute episodes with various manifestations,
facilitate recognition of sickle cell anemia. These episodes, known 8S
"crises"
(Lin-Fu, ibid.), are brought about when the erythrocytes or
red blood cells begin to sickle. Sickling is the term used to describe
the change that occurs within the cells under conditions of reduced
oxygenation. The cells elongate and twist into distorted shapes that
prohibit free flowing movement of the blood. It is proposed that
"logjams" of these rigid cells form, resulting in impeded circulation in
the smaller vessels, thus inhibiting the flow of oxygen to the affected
part of the body. This blood flow obstruction causes tissue death,
which produces acute, incapacitating pain in any part of the body,
fever, and many other non-specific symptoms. This symptom complex
comprises the sickle cell crisis."
Other manifestations include
necrosis, which might occur resulting in chronic leg ulcers; however,
this is less common among those children afflicted wit~ sickle cell
anemia than for adults. Incipient blindness from retinal detachment
might also result from sickling and reduced. Oxygenation in the cells of
the eyes. The result is an overall retarded growth and development, and
increased susceptibility to infections and pneumonia are further
manifestations of the anemia. The childhood victim of this illness is
usually characterized by a. barrel-shaped chest, enlarged protruding
abdomen; and thin extremities.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study sought the psychology impact of living with sickle cell anaemia, a study of Babcock University, Illishan Remo, Ogun State. The study adopted a descriptive survey design in conjunction with the convenience sampling technique to randomly select 100 students from all departments in the study area. Data collection was done through the use and administration of a questionnaire. The data generated were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency count with the aid of the software SPSS ve ... Continue reading---
