Awareness for Diagnosis, Management and Preventive Options of Thalassemia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the frequency of individuals having awareness regarding diagnosis, management, and prevention of Thalassemia. Method: A simple random sampling technique was used for 130 participants in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The designed questionnaire including te demographics, awareness about diagnosis, management, and prevention was used for the study. Results: Overall females had more awareness than males. 37% n=48 males and 44% n=57 females said they were not tested for thalassemia. 40% n=52 males and 45% n=58 females said they do not have thalassemia in their family. 37% n=48 males and 49% n=64 females responded that pre-marital screening could be beneficial. 22% n=29 males and 42% n=55 females responded that thalassemia could be prenatally diagnosed. Only 15% n=19 males and 39% n=51 females knew about chorionic villous sampling. 34% n=44 males and 43% n=56 females said thalassemia is treatable. 35% n=45 males and 48% n=62 females said thalassemia could be fatal. 34% n=44 males and 44% n=57 females think that thalassemic patients could lead a normal life with appropriate Management. Conclusion: Awareness regarding diagnosis from blood, pre-marital screening, Management and different treatment modalities Blood Transfusion, BMT , fatality and severity of disease among non-medical related individuals is less as compared to medical related individuals but in some cases, medical related professionals also had very less awareness like prenatal diagnosis and chorionic villus sampling.