Abstract
Introduction: Goiter often poses aesthetic disgrace problem. The psychosocial impacts of goiter, in particular in woman may be significant. Objective: studying the psychological and social impacts of the disease in goiter patients within the African context and their consequences on the treatment. Methods: It was a transversal study that took place from May 1to July 31, 2011 in the Collines and Donga departments situated in the center and the north of Benin. The study consisted of a survey conducted through an individual discussion based on questionnaire submitted to goiter patients who accepted to provide their answers. Results: This survey involved 86 patients of which 83 women and 3 men. Their average age was 43.7 ± 13.41. Goiter was noticeable in the totality of the patients. 68.6% of patients declared that they experienced on daily basis the shame caused by the disease. 66% thought that it was a natural disease; however, 27.9% believed that it was caused by bewitchment or sorcery. 46.5% and 37.2% resorted to modern and indigenous medicine respectively; 16.3% made no therapeutic move. Despite the psychosocial impacts of the disease, 50% of the patients rejected surgical intervention possibility. The core motives they raised were lack of financial means (34.8%), disease recurrence fright (23.3%), anesthesia fright (16.3%), and surgical fright (14%). Conclusion: Despite the psychological impacts of the disease, strong resistance exists probably more on cultural aspect than the motives mentioned by thyroidectomy patients.
Highlights
Goiter was noticeable in the totality of the patients. 68.6% of patients declared that they experienced on daily basis the shame caused by the disease. 66% thought that it was a natural disease; 27.9% believed that it was caused by bewitchment or sorcery. 46.5% and 37.2% resorted to modern and indigenous medicine respectively; 16.3% made no therapeutic move
The variables studied were those relating to the epidemiological profile of goiter patients, goiter stage according to the WHO classification, patient’s knowledge of the cause of goiter, feelings experienced at the discovery of goiter, the therapeutic recovery of goiter patients, the impact on their lives, their feeling about their illness, their perception of the behavior of those around them, the disability caused by the disease in their lives and their opinion about the possibility of surgical management of their disease
Goiter is clearly visible when the head/neck is in normal position in 23.3% of the sample and it was voluminous, visible from distance in 76.7% of the sample
Summary
Objective: studying the psychological and social impacts of the disease in goiter patients within the African context and their consequences on the treatment. Woman predominance of goiter is well known [7] [8] This is a noticeable condition because of anterior and superficial localization of thyroid at the level of the neck and one of the problems goiter poses is aesthetic disgrace. This problem is even more important that the disease affects mainly women. This study was conducted in order to assess psychological and social impacts in goiter patients within the African context and the consequences on their treatment
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