SICKLE CELL DISEASE (SCD) AMONG ADOLESCENTS: A CORRELATION BETWEEN BURDENS OF INCOME EXPENDITURE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES ON FAMILIES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to investigate SCD among Adolescents: a Correlation between Burdens of Income Expenditure and Psychosocial Challenges on Families in Rivers State, Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were generated for the study. Survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was Rivers State, and it covered all married couples who are parents of adolescents with SCD in Rivers State. A sample of 300 respondents was selected for the study. The selection was done through the use of simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The instrument was face validated by professionals in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. Furthermore, the reliability value of 0.84 Correlation Coefficient was obtained for the study. The statistical methods used for the study were percentage, frequency and contingency tables and a bar-graph as well as chi-square (c²). Percentage was used to analyse biographical data of respondents’ results as presented in a frequency table and a bar-graph for the study. In addition, c²was used to analyse the tested hypotheses for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analyses revealed that correlations exist between SCD among adolescents and its burdens of income expenditure and psychosocial challenges on their families in Rivers State, Nigeria. In accordance with these findings, the study recommended, among others, that the State Government should, through its traditional and social media outlets inform, educate and communicate with parents whose adolescents are suffering from SCD on the dangers of the disease, and why they should adhere to medical and psychosocial therapies, in order to halt the crises and burdens of same on families, and indeed on the society