Family Members' Attitudes to the Chronically Ill in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Chronic conditions are health conditions that are long-term (more than three months) and often permanent, leaving a residual disability that may require long-term management or race rather than a cure. These conditions are often accompanied by continuous pain and/or distress. Some of the common chronic disease include sickle cell anemia, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, arthritis, stroke, breast cancer and prostate cancer, just as families all over the world are diverse, so are their reactions to illness, for some, the problems that come with illness can dominate family life and leave little energy or finance for "normal" family activities. In other instances, family operations and illness are interrelated such that families only function adequately if someone is sick (Minucin and Fishman, 1981).