Abstract:
Caregivers of children with sickle cell disease experience psychological and physical challenges that affect their role as a caregiver. The aim of the study was to find out whether health belief, psychological wellbeing, social support, and some selected demographic variables influence the compliance of caregivers on the treatment of their children. Using a cross sectional survey method, 200 participants (100 caregivers of sickle cell children and 100 caregivers of acutely ill children) were purposively selected for the study. Using behavioural measure of health belief (CHBMS), psychological wellbeing (RSPW), and social support (MSPSS), and medication adherence (MAQ), data was collected. The results showed that caregivers of sickle cell children obtained significantly higher scores than caregivers of acutely ill children on medication adherence questionnaire. Standard multiple regression showed that health belief and social support of caregivers significantly predicted their compliance to their children’s treatment. Psychological wellbeing however did not predict treatment compliance. Multiple regression analysis showed that the influence of caregivers’ health belief on their compliance to their children’s treatment was mediated by their psychological wellbeing. However, psychological wellbeing did not mediate the influence of social support on the treatment compliance. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis showed that age and number of children moderated the relationship between psychological wellbeing and treatment compliance in all caregivers. However, they did not moderate the relationship between health belief and treatment compliance, and between social support and treatment compliance in both sickle cell and acutely ill groups of caregivers. Similar influence was found between psychological wellbeing and treatment compliance in both the sickle cell and the acute illness groups. These results have clinical implication for sickle cell management and research into psychological studies involving caregivers of children with sickle cell disease.
