Parent Involvement in Education of a Child with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Abstract

The disorder we call “Sickle Cell Disease” had been present in Africa for at least five thousand years and has been known by many names in tribal languages. People with SCD have abnormal hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S in their red blood cells. The objective of the study was to establish how parents are involved in management of their children with sickle cell anemia to access formal education. The methodology of study snowball is a non-probability sampling technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances. The study found out that most of the parents discovered about the condition through hospital testing but some few tried the herbs. The study found that majority of the family members had positive relationship with the sickler and most of them empathize with the child in this condition. However some members of the extended family including some parents had mixed reactions. The study found that parents give their children a variety of porridge which balanced. It was found that maintaining the child in this condition together with education was expensive. It was established that the children mostly attend regular schools. The parents are aware of the rights of the child rights to access education however this may be interfered with by crisis. The government should avail medical facilities. Teachers train in special education should be posted to these schools. Parents should be made aware of condition of this disease