Open Access<p>Pre-Transition Readiness in Adolescents and Young Adults with Four Chronic Medical Conditions in South East Nigeria – An African Perspective to Adolescent Transition</p>
Author(s) -
Adaeze C Ayuk,
Vivian Ozoemena Onukwuli,
Ijeoma ObumnemeAnyim,
Joy Eze,
Uzoamaka C Akubuilo,
Ngozi R Mbanefo,
Kenechukwu K Iloh,
Osita U Ezenwosu,
Odutola Israel Odetunde,
Henrietta U. Okafor,
IJ Emodi,
Tagbo Oguonu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1179-318X
DOI - 10.2147/ahmt.s238603
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , family medicine , adult care , outpatient clinic , pediatrics , cross sectional study , young adult , gerontology , pathology
When a child reaches a certain age, he or she moves over to the adult physician. For this to maximally benefit the child, there has to be a process of equipping the child with skills required for taking on more responsibilities. Transitioning involves a process in which the adolescent with chronic illness is prepared ahead of time to enable them to eventually transfer to adult care with good outcomes. In high-income countries with well-organized health financing, the transitioning process begins as early as 12 years. In Africa, this process is not as organized and most hospitals would write a referral letter once the child turns 18 and transfer to adult clinic. In four of our chronic disease clinics (asthma, HIV, sickle cell anaemia and chronic kidney diseases) patients up to 24 years old are still attending the paediatric clinics. Understanding transition readiness among African adolescents remains a gap. Our findings will form a basis for informed practices for adolescent clinics in African countries.