Objective: To explore the social vulnerabilities of the parents of thalassemia major children.
Methodology: The study was carried out through qualitative research approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen families in two tehsils of district Kotli, including tehsil Kotli and tehsil Nakyal employing snowball sampling strategy. The collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis technique.
Results: The parents of thalassemia major children had very little awareness about the disease and came to know only when their children were identified as thalassemia major. They had to face several problems including lack of services available for early diagnosis and treatment and difficulty in arranging donors regularly for blood transfusion. The disease negatively affected their socioeconomic conditions. Due to negative social attitudes towards the disease, the parents were continuously stressed about the future of their children.
Conclusion: The parents of thalassemia major children face social, cultural, economic and psychological challenges while taking care of their children.
Key words: Thalassemia Major, social vulnerabilities, diagnosis, treatment, psychological stress.
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