Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Thalassemia major is the most common genetic disorder, affecting 60,000 individuals annually worldwide. It involves reduced or absent synthesis of hemoglobin chains, leading to severe anemia. Awareness of its transmission, diagnosis, and prevention is crucial in reducing...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70715 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850280856258609152 |
|---|---|
| author | Zarnum Gul Mehtab Malik Uzzi Uzair Aiman Baloch Quang Dai La Noman Sadiq David F. Lo |
| author_facet | Zarnum Gul Mehtab Malik Uzzi Uzair Aiman Baloch Quang Dai La Noman Sadiq David F. Lo |
| author_sort | Zarnum Gul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Thalassemia major is the most common genetic disorder, affecting 60,000 individuals annually worldwide. It involves reduced or absent synthesis of hemoglobin chains, leading to severe anemia. Awareness of its transmission, diagnosis, and prevention is crucial in reducing incidence, especially in high‐risk families. This study assessed parental awareness of thalassemia in Kech, Balochistan. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted at Kech Thalassemia Care Center, Turbat, Balochistan, from May to October 2023, involving 190 parents of children diagnosed with β‐thalassemia major. Participants were selected using a convenience‐purposive sampling method. A structured questionnaire was developed, piloted, and used for data collection after obtaining informed consent. Ethical approval was granted by Mekran Medical College Turbat. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Bayesian linear regression analysis was applied to assess associations. Results The mean ages of fathers and mothers were 38.18 ± 9.78 and 32.28 ± 7.80, respectively. Most participants (55.3%) lived in rural areas; 63.2% of mothers were illiterate, while 62.6% of fathers were educated. Only 13.7% recognized thalassemia as an inherited disease, and 91.6% were unaware of premarital and antenatal screening. Blood transfusion was seen as the only treatment by 81.1%, and 50% acknowledged the role of consanguinity. Awareness was poor in 48.9% and good in only 4.7% consanguinity and residency showed a significant association with awareness. Conclusion Parental awareness of thalassemia was inadequate. residency and consanguinity were significantly associated with awareness, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d878a089400e425c910e291f18717c3e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d878a089400e425c910e291f18717c3e2025-08-20T01:48:34ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-04-0184n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70715Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional StudyZarnum Gul0Mehtab Malik1Uzzi Uzair2Aiman Baloch3Quang Dai La4Noman Sadiq5David F. Lo6Mekran Medical College Turbat Balochistan PakistanMekran Medical College Turbat Balochistan PakistanMekran Medical College Turbat Balochistan PakistanMekran Medical College Turbat Balochistan PakistanThe Innovative STEMagazine 501(c)(3) College Station Texas USAMekran Medical College Turbat Balochistan PakistanSchool of Arts and Sciences Rutgers University New Brunswick New Jersey USAABSTRACT Background and Aims Thalassemia major is the most common genetic disorder, affecting 60,000 individuals annually worldwide. It involves reduced or absent synthesis of hemoglobin chains, leading to severe anemia. Awareness of its transmission, diagnosis, and prevention is crucial in reducing incidence, especially in high‐risk families. This study assessed parental awareness of thalassemia in Kech, Balochistan. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted at Kech Thalassemia Care Center, Turbat, Balochistan, from May to October 2023, involving 190 parents of children diagnosed with β‐thalassemia major. Participants were selected using a convenience‐purposive sampling method. A structured questionnaire was developed, piloted, and used for data collection after obtaining informed consent. Ethical approval was granted by Mekran Medical College Turbat. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Bayesian linear regression analysis was applied to assess associations. Results The mean ages of fathers and mothers were 38.18 ± 9.78 and 32.28 ± 7.80, respectively. Most participants (55.3%) lived in rural areas; 63.2% of mothers were illiterate, while 62.6% of fathers were educated. Only 13.7% recognized thalassemia as an inherited disease, and 91.6% were unaware of premarital and antenatal screening. Blood transfusion was seen as the only treatment by 81.1%, and 50% acknowledged the role of consanguinity. Awareness was poor in 48.9% and good in only 4.7% consanguinity and residency showed a significant association with awareness. Conclusion Parental awareness of thalassemia was inadequate. residency and consanguinity were significantly associated with awareness, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70715awarenessBalochistanβ‐thalassemiaBTMPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Zarnum Gul Mehtab Malik Uzzi Uzair Aiman Baloch Quang Dai La Noman Sadiq David F. Lo Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study Health Science Reports awareness Balochistan β‐thalassemia BTM Pakistan |
| title | Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full | Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_short | Awareness About Thalassemia Among the Parents of Thalassemic Children in Balochistan: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_sort | awareness about thalassemia among the parents of thalassemic children in balochistan a cross sectional study |
| topic | awareness Balochistan β‐thalassemia BTM Pakistan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70715 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zarnumgul awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT mehtabmalik awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT uzziuzair awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT aimanbaloch awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT quangdaila awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT nomansadiq awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy AT davidflo awarenessaboutthalassemiaamongtheparentsofthalassemicchildreninbalochistanacrosssectionalstudy |