PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOME OF PARENTS AND YOUNG-CHILDREN AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

This cross-sectional study aims to assess whether renal transplantatio n in children under the age of 6 years has an effect on the child's la ter behaviour and eating and whether this outcome is related to differ ences in the levels of stress and coping skills shown by the parents. In this small sample of 14 children aged under 8 years, renal transpla ntation in the pre-school age range did not have any marked adverse ef fect on the children's emotional or behavioural state, The children's severe eating problems dramatically improved after transplant. Long-te rm, early tube-feeding does not impair the development of normal feedi ng patterns in these children. Parental stress levels were not elevate d in the post-transplant period and parents tended to use passive copi ng strategies to manage the chronic illness in their child.