A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS REGARDING THALASSEMIA IN NAWABSHAH

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia is a lifelong inherited blood disorder that remains a major health problem in Pakistan. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of parental knowledge and awareness regarding Thalassemia in Nawabshah. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 183 parents of Thalassemia patients visiting the Thalassemia Center Nawabshah. That most parents (63.68%) had poor knowledge, while only 36.72% demonstrated satisfactory awareness.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the level of parental knowledge about Thalassemia.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Thalassemia Center, Nawabshah, after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The study aimed to assess parental knowledge and awareness regarding Thalassemia. A total of 183 parents of diagnosed Thalassemia patients were included in the study. Participants were selected through a systematic sampling technique to ensure appropriate representation of the target population. Parents who were willing to participate and available during the data collection period were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and confidentiality of participants was strictly maintained throughout the research process.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.19 years with a standard deviation of 6.564. The majority of the participants were female (124, 67%) and predominantly belonged to the lower socioeconomic class (154, 84.2%). Most participants were Sindhi (123, 67.2%), and more than half of the respondents were illiterate (56%). Regarding occupation, the majority were housewives (123, 67.2%).The assessment of knowledge and awareness about thalassemia revealed that 63.68% of participants had poor knowledge, while 36.72% demonstrated good knowledge.

Conclusion: This study concludes that parental knowledge and awareness regarding Thalassemia in Nawabshah are generally inadequate. Most parents lack proper understanding of disease inheritance, preventive strategies, treatment options, and long-term complications. Low education, rural residence, and poor socioeconomic conditions were major factors associated with poor awareness. Strengthening health education, genetic counseling, and community-based awareness programs is essential to reduce the burden of Thalassemia and prevent new cases in Pakistan