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22. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Parents of Beta Thalassemia Patients
Muhammad Sa'd Masood1, Maqbool Hussain1 and Iqra Rashid2
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, practices, and attitude of parents of β- Thalassemia patients.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the thalassemia Center of Children Hospital PIMS, Islamabad, for six months from December 2022 to May 2023.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the thalassemia Center of Children Hospital PIMS, Islamabad, for six months from December 2022 to May 2023. Two hundred fifty parents were selected using the WHO sample size calculator through the nonprobability sampling technique. Informed consent was obtained and the questionnaire was filled from each participant. Data were analyzed by using the latest version of SPSs.
Results: About 77.6% of the participants were moms, 22.4 % were dads, and 68% were married to relatives and 32% to others. 38.8% said thalassemia is inherited, but 71.6% didn't know about pre-marital screening and 90% expressed concern. However, 97.2% supported pre-marital screening. Participants' knowledge, attitude, and habits were significantly associated with rural and urban residence (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: The study concluded that the participants lacked proper knowledge regarding pre-marital and prenatal testing. Around ninety percent of them were not in favor of cousin marriages, and anxiety was the main psychological problem of all patients. It is therefore concluded that awareness seminars and workshops could help to raise awareness and to reduce the incidence of the disease.
Key Words: Beta-thalassemia, pre-natal diagnosis, pre-marital diagnosis