Exploring the barriers to disclosure of life-threatening illness to children in Blantyre, Malawi

It is recognised in the western world that children with life-threatening or life-limiting illness benefit from sharing of information about their illness in an age-appropriate way as this enables children to feel empowered, in some control of their illness and less isolated. Currently in Malawi, as in the rest of Africa, there are increasing numbers of children facing the diagnosis of life-threatening or life-limiting illness and requiring compassionate palliative care. However, in Malawi, children are still told very little of their illness. This study was therefore designed to use qualitative methods to investigate the barriers to disclosure of life-threatening illness to children in Malawi. It sought to obtain information regarding Malawians' thoughts and feelings about childhood life threatening illness and their attitudes to talking about this to children. It also explored the cultural context and concerns leading to barriers to disclosing to children and identified what children would like to know about their illness. A set of recommendations for health workers in paediatric palliative care in Malawi have been developed from the findings of this study, to facilitate explanation and communication with children and families regarding life-threatening and life-limiting illness, in order to equip and empower children to participate in decision making and come to a position of acceptance and peace.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Bunn, Mary

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Gwyther, Liz
• Masiye, Francis

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10223

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10223