Adaptive Functioning and Psychosocial Problems in Children with Beta Thalassemia Major

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Child Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Beta thalassemia major is a significant health issue in Egypt, causing considerable burden on healthcare systems and families.
• Children with beta thalassemia major face emotional, social, psychological, and behavioral challenges.
• This hemoglobinopathy necessitates understanding its impact on affected children's lives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychosocial burden experienced by children with beta thalassemia major.
• To assess the adaptive functioning of children diagnosed with beta thalassemia major.
• To compare psychosocial and adaptive outcomes between children with and without beta thalassemia major.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 50 children with beta thalassemia major and 50 healthy controls, matched for age and sex.
• Utilized the Vineland Adaptive Functioning Scale to measure adaptive behaviors.
• Employed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSCL) to assess psychosocial morbidity.

Main Results:

• Children with beta thalassemia major exhibited significantly lower scores in overall adaptive behavior and the communication subscale.
• Despite lower scores, all mean adaptive behavior values for both groups remained within the average range.
• No significant differences in overall psychosocial morbidity scores were found between the groups, though attention domain scores were higher in the thalassemia group, with internalizing behaviors noted in 10% of patients.

Conclusions:

• Children with beta thalassemia major experience relatively mild impacts on adaptive and psychosocial functioning.
• Social and medical support systems appear to mitigate some of the challenges faced by these children.
• These support systems may contribute to enhanced competence and psychological well-being in pediatric thalassemia patients.