title: Quality of life in children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify specific domains and traits that are most affected in patients with sickle cell anemia and traits with respect to normal children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children attending the regional hemoglobinopathy center at IGMC, Nagpur in age group of 8-14 years were assessed. Of 52 children studied, 25 had sickle cell anemia (SCA), 12 had sickle cell trait (SCT) and 15 wre normal control. The (quality of life (QOL) was assessed using multidimensional interview based questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All domains, physical, psychosocial, cognitive and morbidity were affected. In SCA playing and mobility were most affected. There was feeling of sadness or disinterest and lack of support from teachers. The school attendance, vocational achievement perception, entertainment and participation in cultural activities were also affected. The intensity of weakness and pain was greater in SCA children who left that they were affected by a major illness. The unusual finding was that the SCT children also showed affection of all domains as compared to normal children, which was perhaps due to the stigma of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QOL is affected in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to a lesser extent in SCT. Interventions to improve QOL should target the affected items. Improving awareness of the disease and its manifestation will help to alleviate the psychosocial affliction of children with SCT.
authors.affiliation: Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, India. archana@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
authors.forename: Archana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Habib G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Pathan
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires