OBJECTIVES: To assess the parental knowledge about Thalassemia.
STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study.
PLACE & DURATION: The study was carried out at the Thalassemia Centre of The Children's Hospital & the Institute of Child Health
Multan, Pakistan. The duration of the study was 1st January, 2015 to 30th July, 2015.
METHODOLOGY: The Data was collected from the 120 registered Thalassemia major patients' parents with the help of convenient
sampling. The structured interview schedule as used as a tool for data collection. The structured interview schedule was discussed
with two senior doctors (>8 years' experience) working in the Thalassemia Centers and public health Institution. Descriptive and
inferential statistics were used to analyze the data which include frequency, percentage. Questions regarding illness, awareness about
blood screening, mode of transmission of disease, knowledge and practices abut prevention and treatment of disease was asked.
RESULTS: Among the 120 respondents, the majority of the mothers 75.0% were visited to the thalassemia center for the treatment of
their thalassemia children. About 73.3% parents were belonging to the Seraiki ethnic background. Sixty three percent parents
monthly income was less than 10,000 rupees. Only 50% parents know that thalassemia is an inherited disease.
CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the parental knowledge about thalassemia was very poor. Thalassemia awareness program
should be proposed for the general public and the Thalassemia prevention program must be introduced at districts levels.
Key words: Parents, Knowledge, Thalassemia, Child.
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