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Study of behavioral problems in multi-transfused thalassemic children
Chandrashekar Hongally1, Asha D Benakappa, Shankar Reena
1Department of Psychiatry, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Behavioral problems are common in multi-transfused children with beta-thalassemia major. Factors like age, school performance, and family history influence these issues, highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Child Psychology
- Medical Social Work
Background:
- Beta-thalassemia major is a chronic blood disorder requiring lifelong transfusions.
- Improved life expectancy in thalassemia patients increases the importance of psychosocial aspects.
- Understanding behavioral issues is crucial for managing the long-term well-being of affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess behavioral problems in multi-transfused children with beta-thalassemia major.
- To identify psychosocial factors associated with behavioral issues in these children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 50 multi-transfused thalassemic children aged 5-10 years.
- Data collected using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Parental Attitude Scale.
- Statistical analysis included ANOVA and Student's t-test.
Main Results:
- 32% of patients exhibited behavioral problems, indicated by high CBCL scores.
- Higher behavioral problem scores correlated with older age, poor school performance, and maternal education.
- Factors like family history of thalassemia, illness duration, and school absenteeism also showed associations.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral problems are prevalent in multi-transfused children with beta-thalassemia major.
- Early detection and intervention for behavioral issues can improve coping mechanisms.
- Addressing psychosocial factors is essential for comprehensive thalassemia care.
Background:
Beta-thalassemia major is a chronic disorder of blood, having an extensive impact on the affected child. It involves lifelong therapeutic regime, with repeated blood transfusions. With improved life expectancy, due to improved medical management psychosocial aspects of thalassemia are gaining importance.
Objective:
To assess the behavioral problems in multi-transfused thalassemic children and psychosocial factors affecting them.
Setting:
The study was conducted in a tertiary care level hospital and research institute catering mainly to a population of low socioeconomic status.
Design:
The study was a cross-sectional study involving 50 multi-transfused thalassemic children of age 5-10 years.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty multi-transfused thalassemic children, aged 5-10 years, not suffering from any other major medical illness, were included. Child Behavior Check List (Achenbach) (CBCL) was used to collect data from each parent regarding the child's behavior. Parental Attitude Scale (Rangaswamy 1989) was applied. Descriptive statistical analysis was used with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test to find the significance of data.
Results:
The CBCL total scores were high in 32% patients, indicating the presence of behavioral problems. Higher CBCL scores were found in children of older age group, those with poor school performance, whose mothers' education was more than eighth standard, had history of death of thalassemic relative in family, greater duration of diagnosed illness, poor pre-transfusion hemoglobin level, and who had longer periods of school absenteeism.
Conclusions:
Behavioral problems are common in multi-transfused thalassemic children. Early diagnosis and intervention of behavioral problems in these children would make them cope with thalassemia better.
