Étude de l’anxiété-trait et l’anxiété-état chez les enfants anémiques : région de Chefchaouen au nord du Maroc

Anemia can contribute to the deterioration of quality of life and have a significant physical impact leading to an increase in morbidity, but its psychological impact remains underestimated and is not well clarified, especially in school-age children. Our objective was to assess the level of anxiety in a group of anemic children and compare it to a group of children with normal hemoglobin. Our population consisted of 170 students aged between 8 and 14 years old, including 51 anemic and 119 with normal hemoglobin. Anxiety is assessed using Spielberger's STAI anxiety inventory scale, according to its two concepts: state and trait. Our results show a median hemoglobin of 10,7 [9,9,9,10] in anemic students and 14,3 [2–13,13–15] in non-anemic students (P = 0,000). The mean state and trait anxiety scores are respectively 31,88 ± 7,25 and 34,82 ± 6,84 in anemic students and 2,55 ± 6,37 and 34,89 ± 5,7 in not anemic, without significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, our study did not report high levels of anxiety in anemic children; the means are comparable to those found in clinical studies in children of similar age.     

Les besoins des parents confrontés aux soins palliatifs et au décès de leur enfant - étude exploratoire

Within the context of palliative care, supporting the whole family is crucial both during the child's illness and after its death. This approach requires a consideration by the health care teams of the family needs and, among them, the parental needs.ObjectivesOur purpose is to analyze in qualitative and retrospective terms the way in which the needs of the parents facing the death of their child have been met or not by the health care team (physicians, nursing staff, psychologists). We will try to highlight the factors that would either facilitate or impede the parental adjustment to the death of their child.Study designFour mothers and two fathers of children suffering from metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, that had been deceased for at least six months but less than two years, were met for a semi-directive interview based on medical needs (care to child), social, relational, psychological, cultural, spiritual or existential needs prior to and following the death of their child. An assessment of depression and anxiety was also performed (HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).ResultsFamilies have highly variable needs that require great flexibility on the part of the health care team. Away from the death of their child (18 months), half of the parents still have high HADS scores, without benefiting of grief counseling which is however much needed.ConclusionAt the end of this study and from clinical material and literature, we carried out a mapping so as to help caregivers in identifying among the parents who are facing the death of their child, any ‘barrier’ factors that may complicate their grief, as well as any ‘resource’ factors they can rely on in terms of following-up their grief.