Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-m9kch Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T17:24:53.842Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The social impact of haemophilia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

R. A. Boon
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
D. F. Roberts
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Summary

Haemophilia, one of the oldest known genetic disorders, imposes varying degrees of disability on those affected. A survey of 137 haemophiliacs, seventy-eight adults and fifty-nine children, in the north of England was conducted to discover the extent of social, educational and employment problems created by the disease, while investigation of sixty-nine mothers of patients provided information on its impact on family life.

Some problems are adequately met, others not; those of education and employment are the most serious. Educational deficiencies are due to incomplete and interrupted schooling. Choice of employment is severely restricted for them, and stability of employment is adversely affected by episodes of ill-health. But with improved methods of medical treatment the children are losing less school time than the adults did, fewer of them attend schools for the physically handicapped, and this should result in the attainment of better educational standards, and therefore more hope for permanent and satisfactory employment in the future.

The birth of a haemophilic child markedly affects the family, particularly the mother, but again there is a difference in response between the present and the older generation of mothers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1970, Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ali, A.M., Gandy, R.H., Britten, M.I. & Dormandy, K.M. (1967) Joint haemorrhage in haemophilia: is full advantage taken of plasma therapy? Br. med. J. iii, 828.Google Scholar
Ahlberg, A. (1965) Haemophilia in Sweden. VII: Incidence, treatment and prophylaxis of arthropathy. Acta orthop. scand. Suppl.77.Google Scholar
Bennett, E., Dormandy, K.M., Churchill, W.G.L., Coward, A.R., Smith, M. & Cleghorn, T.E. (1967) Cryoprecipitate and the plastic blood-bag system: Provision of adequate replacement therapy for routine treatment of haemophilia. Br. med. J. ii, 88.Google Scholar
Biggs, R. & MacFarlane, R.G. (1966) Treatment of Haemophilia and other Coagulation Disorders. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.Google Scholar
British Haemophilia Society (1965) Annual Report.Google Scholar
British Haemophilia Society (1967) Annual Report.Google Scholar
Britten, M.I., Spooner, R.I.D., Dormandy, K.M. & Biggs, R. (1966) The haemophilic boy in school. Br. med. J. ii, 224.Google Scholar
Bronks, I.G. & Blackburn, E.K. (1968) A socio-medical study of haemophilia and related states. Br. J. prev. soc. Med. 22, 68.Google Scholar
Brown, D.L., Hardisty, R.M., Kosoy, M.H. & Bracken, C. (1967) Anti-haemophilic globulin: preparation by an improved cryoprecipitation method and clinical use. Br. med. J. ii, 79.Google Scholar
Canadian Haemophilia Society (1962) Annual Report.Google Scholar
Dalrymple-Champneys, W. (1967) Treatment of haemophilia. Br. med. J. ii, 440.Google Scholar
Dormandy, K.M., Britten, M.I., Biggs, R. & Spooner, R.J.D. (1965) Report to the Minister of Health on the Educational and Medical Problems of the Young Haemophiliac.Google Scholar
Dormandy, K.M., & Madgwick, J.C.A. (1970) Management of acute haemarthrosis and muscle haemorrhage. In: The Haemophiliac and his World. Edited by Gourdeau, R.Karger, Basle and New York.Google Scholar
Favre-Gilly, J., Saint-Paul, E. & Revol, L. (1965) Une expérience de 7 ans: Le centre Medico-Scolaire de Montain pour jeunes garçons hémophiles. In: Current Studies in Haemophilia. Edited by Soulier, J.P. & Josso, F.. Karger, Basle and New York.Google Scholar
Haldane, J.B.S. & Philip, U. (1939) The daughters and sisters of haemophiliacs. J. Genet. 38, 193.Google Scholar
Ingram, G.I.C. (1965) Some problems of social management in haemophilia. Br. J. clin. Pract. 19, (9), 495.Google Scholar
Kerr, C.B. (1965) Genetics of human blood coagulation. J. med. Genet. 2, 254.Google Scholar
Ministry of Social Security (1967) Circumstances of Families, Report. HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Pavlovsky, A. & Favre-Gilly, J. (1957) The marriage problems and descendants of haemophiliacs. In: Haemophilia and Haemophiloid Disease States. Edited by Brinkhouse, K.M.. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.Google Scholar
Ramgren, O. (1962) The haemophilia situation in Sweden. Acta. med. scand. Suppl. 379, 37.Google Scholar
Smith, F.A. (1965) Vocational rehabilitation of the adult haemophiliac. In: Current Studies in Haemophilia. Edited by Soulier, J.P. & Josso, F.. Karger, Basic and New York.Google Scholar