Open AccessA cross-sectional study of awareness and practices regarding thalassemia among parents of thalassemic children
Author(s) -
Ankur Jain,
Shafali Singla,
Samridhi Lakhanpal,
Ira Jain
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1035_19
Subject(s) - medicine , thalassemia , cross sectional study , disease , pediatrics , blood transfusion , informed consent , family medicine , incidence (geometry) , transfusion therapy , alternative medicine , surgery , physics , pathology , optics
This cross-sectional study was carried out in thalassemia ward of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, among the parents of thalassemic children to determine awareness about side effects and complications of blood transfusion therapy, other treatment options, nature of disease, and food practices of transfusion-dependent patients. The study was carried out using a predesigned questionnaire and 118 parents participated in the study. About 50.84% patients belonged to the Sikh community, 45.76% patients practiced Hindu religion, and only 3.38% of the patients were Muslim. This study shows that 87.29% parents do not know how the disease is spread. About 55.93% have no knowledge about iron-containing food should not be included in the diet of transfusion-dependent patients. About 86.44% parents believed they had no role in transmission of the disease to their child, 79.66% parents do not understand the importance of screening before marriage, and 95.76% parents do not know about alternative treatment options. This study wants to shine light about the inadequate and superficial knowledge of thalassemia among general public and how awareness of the disease will bring down the incidence rates.