The Psychological Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on the Sick Child's Family

Abstract

It is accepted that a supportive and containing family environment conducive to a therapeutic alliance being established in the best conditions is a necessary condition for improving the quality of life of the sick child and his family [1,2]. Few studies focus specifically on the experience of families including a child with sickle cell disease. However, it remains a common pathology characterized by physical suffering, repeated hospitalization, side effects from the treatment and even risk of mortality. This genetic disease is the most prevalent in the world, with about 500 million individuals carrying the sickle cell trait and 50 million living with the disease worldwide [3]. Originally spread over malaria-endemic areas such as sub-Saharan African countries,