DIALYSIS

Chronic kidney disease poses a significant psychosocial burden, particularly among patients undergoing long-term dialysis in low-resource settings. This study assesse psychosocial challenges and coping strategies among patients receiving dialysis treatment in a tertiary institution in Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 100, selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency tables) and inferential analysis, with significance established at p < 0.05. Findings revealed that a substantial proportion of patients experienced high levels of psychological distress, including anxiety (72.0%) and depressive symptoms (65.3%), largely attributed to prolonged treatment duration and uncertainty about prognosis. Financial strain was reported by 81.4% of respondents, with many struggling to consistently afford dialysis sessions, medications, and transportation. Social challenges included withdrawal from socialactivities (58.7%) and feelings of dependency (62.5%). Despite these challenges, the majority of respondents adopted spiritual coping strategies (78.9%), followed by reliance on family support (69.4%) and acceptance of illness (54.2%). However, professional psychological support services were poorly utilized (18.0%) due to stigma and limited availability within dialysis units. A statistically significant association was found between financial burden and psychological stress levels (p = 0.002), as well as between coping strategy adoption and overall emotional adjustment (p = 0.004). The study concludes that dialysis patients face complex psychosocial that extend beyond clinical care. It recommends integration of mental health services, social support systems, and financial subsidy programs into dialysis care to enhance patient well-being and treatment adherence.