IMPACT OF THALASSEMIA MAJOR ON PATIENTS’ FAMILIES IN PAKISTAN
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Department Of Sociology, University Of Peshawar
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of Thalassemia
major on patients’ families in Pakistan; to describe the awareness among the parents
regarding Thalassemia Major; the cost of treatment of Thalassemia Major and the
sufferings it brings to the families; the social problems faced by patients’ families; to
identify the barriers patients’ families face in the treatment of Thalassemia child.
Population of the study was parents of Thalassemia major children, visited for blood
transfusions at the Thalassemia / Hemophilia Centers of The Children’s Hospital & the
Institute of Child Health Multan, Minhaj ul Quran, Amina Blood Foundation, Fatimid
Blood Foundation Multan. A sample of 500 respondents was drawn from the total
population and structured interview was administrated. Data were analyzed and
interpreted by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 19.0 version software.
A structured interview was conducted for data collection. Interview schedule was
developed after detailed literature review and also accessing the situation of peripheries
in district Multan. The structured interview was discussed with two experts of sociology
and two senior doctors (>8 years’ experience) working in the Thalassemia centers,
Government Health Institutions. It was revised to incorporate recommended
improvements. Focus Groups Discussion was also conducted. A total of (N=64) sample
was drawn from the population and participants were divided equally (n=16) from 04
blood transfusions centers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze
the data that includes: frequency, percent, mean, standard deviations. one way ANOVA
and Pearsoncorrelation while for the data analysis of FGDs NVivo 7 software was used.
The study summarized that the health care providers should be encouraged to talk
about Thalassemia as a public health problem in Pakistan and should enhance the public
awarenessto eliminate the Thalassemia in Pakistan.