IMPACTS OF GENETIC DISEASES ON THE AFFECTED CHILDREN S PARENTS

Genetic diseases are chronic in nature and very problematic. The aim of this study was to determine the impacts of genetic diseases on the affected children’s parents in the African region. A scoping review of eleven electronic databases was done. Only original peer-reviewed qualitative research studies published in peer-reviewed journals and periodicals published in English language between 2018 and 2022 were included. Thematic content analysis and synthesis was employed to analyze and present the findings. Out of 4765 identified articles, only 12 studies fully met the inclusion criteria. The study concluded that parents of children with genetic diseases face many challenges such as; (i) low quality of life—physically, socially, psychologically and environmentally; (ii) lack of information; (iii) lack of specialized services; (iv) financial strain; (v) negative or inappropriate coping mechanisms; and (vi) existential concerns. The study recommends that; (i) counselling and social support for affected parents to help mitigate the impact of genetic diseases; (ii) raising awareness of genetic diseases among the affected parents and their families, as well as the public in general; (iii) international and national policies and programmes should be instituted to enhance screening and detection of genetic disorders, coordination of clinical management of genetic diseases, facilitation of training of medical genetics/genomics professionals, and the stimulation of research in genetic diseases; (iv) ensure affordability of treatment and healthcare services to parents with children with genetic diseases; (v) promote resilience and positive adaptive coping mechanisms; and (vi) provision of trauma counselling to the affected parents.