PERCEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT AND COPING MECHANISMS OF PATIENTS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY

Abstract

This study examined the perceived psychological impact and coping mechanisms of patients living with sickle cell anaemia at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a chronic, inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells, leading to various health complications such as recurrent pain crises, anemia, infections, and organ damage. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and a simple random sampling technique was used to select 122 participants from the Sickle Cell Clinic and Haematology Daycare Unit. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while a Chi-square test was employed to determine the relationship between psychological impact and coping strategies at a significance level of p < 0.05. The findings revealed that most respondents (77%) experienced significant psychological impact from living with sickle cell anaemia, including emotional stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal. Despite these challenges, a large proportion of the participants demonstrated resilience, with 63% actively employing coping strategies to manage their condition. Religious coping emerged as the most frequently used strategy, followed by seeking emotional support, engaging in recreational activities, and adopting avoidance and educational strategies. Factors influencing coping strategies included family support, religious beliefs, education level, financial status, healthcare worker attitude, access to information, and age or maturity. The Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between psychological impact and coping strategies (χ² = 5.823, p = 0.016), indicating that individuals with higher psychological distress were more likely to adopt strategic coping mechanisms. The study concluded that sickle cell anaemia exerts a considerable psychological burden on patients, yet many develop adaptive coping mechanisms to manage the challenges. It was recommended that psychosocial support services, including counseling, peer support groups, and faith-based interventions, be integrated into routine care. Nurses and other healthcare providers should assess psychological needs regularly and provide holistic, patient-centered care to enhance coping capacity and improve quality of life among individuals living with sickle cell anaemia. Keywords: Psychological Impacts, Coping Mechanisms, Patients, Sickle Cell Anaemia.