Experiences and Needs of School Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease and Their Caregivers at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi City County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70619/vol6iss6pp32-45857Keywords:
Rheumatic heart disease, experiences of children living with RHD, caregiversAbstract
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of school-age children with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and their caregivers at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as the barriers encountered. RHD remains a substantial health and socioeconomic burden in many low-resource settings and is compounded by delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and financial strain, all of which negatively affect patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify the medical, psychological, and social challenges that these children face due to RHD and to help determine the types of support they require from their caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which were then analyzed using thematic analysis. Triangulation was used to increase the credibility of the findings. Four main themes emerged: financial hardship, social isolation, physical/emotional burden, and systemic healthcare issues. This shows there is a complex relationship between the medical and social aspects of the experiences of families living with children with RHD. The findings from this study should inform the development of targeted, integrated, and necessary interventions to improve the delivery of healthcare to these families and the overall quality of life of the children and their caregivers.
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