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PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS OF CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN MULAGO NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KAMPALA, UGANDA

Geoffrey Odong1, Gerald Humble Apule1, Ronald Ameny1

  • 1School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|May 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Nearly one in three children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Uganda experience psychological distress. Older children (11-17 years) face higher risks, highlighting the need for targeted mental health support for pediatric SCD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) face significant physical, psychological, and social challenges.
  • Limited data exists on the prevalence of psychological symptoms in Ugandan children with SCD.
  • This study addresses the gap by assessing psychological distress in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of health-related psychological distress among children with SCD in Uganda.
  • To identify factors associated with psychological distress in this cohort.
  • To inform the development of supportive interventions for children with SCD.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.
  • Included 288 children aged 7–17 years with SCD.
  • Psychological distress assessed using the Distress Questionnaire 5 (DQ-5) and Child Behavioral Questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of psychological distress was 34.0% (98/288 children).
  • Children aged 11–17 years had significantly higher odds of psychological distress (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1, p=0.029) compared to those aged 7–10 years.
  • Majority of participants were female (52.4%) and lived with their mothers only (51.0%).

Conclusions:

  • Approximately one in three children with SCD in Uganda experiences psychological distress.
  • Adolescents with SCD are at a higher risk, necessitating tailored psychological support.
  • Interventions are crucial to mitigate negative psychological impacts and foster resilience in children with SCD.
Abstract

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