Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic blood disorders in Asia. Consanguineous marriages and avoiding pre-marital and antenatal screening are common in Pakistan due to psychosocial, cultural, and religious factors. Few studies have investigated the beliefs regarding thalassemia, especially in a developing country. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding thalassemia in an urban population.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan over a period of six months during March 2016 through August 2016. Participants selected by representative sampling were interviewed face-to-face using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four parts. The first part inquired about general demographic variables, while the second part assessed knowledge of the participant regarding thalassemia. The third and fourth parts were concerning the beliefs and practices regarding thalassemia. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics, v. 24.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY).
Results: Only 53% (n = 720) of the respondents had heard about thalassemia. The mean knowledge score was 5.8. The total possible score ranged between 0 - 12 with the higher scores indicating better knowledge. About three-quarters (70%) of the sample did not know that an individual can be a carrier of thalassemia. Less than half (38%) of the participants viewed premarital screening for thalassemia as necessary, with only 10% agreeing that thalassemia carriers should not marry. There was no pre-marriage counseling done in 98% of the families. Conclusion: Our study highlights the prevalence of numerous myths and a low level of knowledge regarding thalassemia in an urban population of Pakistan.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6764615 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5268 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease in Colorado and Methodologies of the Colorado Sickle Cell Data Collection Program: Public Health Surveillance Study.
JMIR Public Health Surveill
December 2024
Center for Public Health Innovation, 891 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen, CO, 80439, United States, 1 7204121174.
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States, with the highest prevalence among Black or African American populations. While advances in care have improved survival, comprehensive state-level data on the prevalence of SCD remain limited, which hampers efforts to optimize health care services. To address this gap, the Colorado Sickle Cell Data Collection (CO-SCDC) program was established in 2021 as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's initiative to enhance surveillance and public health efforts for SCD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRisk Factors for Anemia in Adolescent Pregnancies: Evidence From the Lembah Pantai Urban Health District in Malaysia.
Cureus
August 2024
Centre for Burden of Disease Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, MYS.
Introduction Adolescent pregnant mothers are at higher risk of acquiring anemia during pregnancy, which has detrimental consequences for the mother and baby. Untreated and prolonged anemia can lead to perinatal morbidity and mortality and antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum maternal morbidity. Anemia among adolescent pregnant mothers can be attributed to many factors, such as poor nutrition and the physiological demands of pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCauses of Death and Mortality Trends in Individuals with Thalassemia in the United States, 1999-2020.
J Blood Med
August 2024
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New York Medical College at Saint Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ, USA .
Purpose: Our study aims to describe the mortality trends and disparities among individuals with thalassemia in the United States (US).
Patients And Methods: We used CDC WONDER database to calculate the age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 individuals and used the Joinpoint Regression Program to measure the average annual percent change (AAPC). Subgroup evaluations were performed by sex, age, race, census region, and urbanization level.
Consanguineous marriages, premarital screening, and genetic testing: a survey among Saudi university students.
Front Public Health
April 2024
Medical Students, Faculty of Medicine Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Background: Marriage among cousins or close relatives, i.e., consanguinity, is prevalent in many parts of the world, especially the Muslim world.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNational Quality Indicators in Pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia.
Pediatrics
April 2024
Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nationally endorsed quality measures in pediatric sickle cell anemia, focusing on antibiotic prophylaxis and transcranial Doppler ultrasounds.
- Data from California and Georgia (2010-2019) showed that only about 22.2% of children in California and 15.5% in Georgia received adequate antibiotic treatment, with some demographic factors influencing these outcomes.
- Additionally, around half of the participants underwent annual stroke risk assessments, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and potential improvements in healthcare practices for better SCA management.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!