Humaira Maheen|Farrukh Malik|Barera Siddique|Asim Qidwai
Assessing Parental Knowledge About Thalassemia in a Thalassemia Center of Karachi, Pakistan
abstract thalassemia leading haemoglobinopathy sickle cell anemia accounts 15 global population pakistan every 14 per 1000 infants suffers thalassemia regardless population high risk thalassemia major evidence suggest pakistanis possess poor knowledge disease present study aimed assess parents accurate knowledge thalassemia disease afzaal memorial thalassemia foundation karachi pakistan total 172 parents existing patients receiving regular blood transfusion center included study parents knowledge assessed via pretested validated thalassemia knowledge questionnaire findings show 40 sample showed lower knowledge scores thalassemia among different ethnic origins urdu speaking respondents showed higher average score correct knowledge thalassemia major 216 441 compared siraiki 179 448 pathans 172 434 latter two ethnic groups also showed poor knowledge thalassemia minor generally parents provided correct answers treatment thalassemia major findings suggest targeted interventions required high risk ethnic groups thalassemia education programs offered extended family members existing patients thalassemia centers high risk ethnic groups siraiki pathan need rigorous interventions thalassemia worker program introduced nationwide