TITLE:
The Psychosocial and Financial Ramifications of Thalassemia on Parents of Thalassemic Children Presented at Tertiary Care Hospitals
AUTHORS:
Nimra Shafi, Shakeel Ahmed, Abdul Raheem Siddique
KEYWORDS:
Thalassemia Major, Social, Financial Impact
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.3,
July
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Thalassemia major is a disease that requires frequent admission of patients
to medical facilities along with unremitting medicinal and blood transfusion aids.
The families of such patients suffer in different aspects of their lives. The severity
of the challenges they are subject to has been examined in this research with reference
to Karachi and Hyderabad. Chief focus is rendered to the assessment of psychological,
social, and economical implications. Objective: The aim of this study is
to assess the social, financial and psychological impact of thalassemia on parents
of children suffering from thalassemia. Study Design: Cross-sectional
study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at PNS Shifa
Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Institute Karachi, and Civil Hospital
Hyderabad. Methodology: A cross-sectional study which was aimed at establishing
the social, financial and psychological impact of thalassemia on families of affected
children was conducted at PNS Shifa Hospital, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Institute
Karachi, and Civil Hospital Hyderabad. The data was collected using a structured
questionnaire as tool for data collection. The questionnaires were filled by interviewing
the parents of registered thalassemia major patients by the researchers. Data was
analyzed and interpreted using the SPSS 25.0 version. Results: The total
number of participants which were meeting the inclusion criteria was 237. Study population
with high income (above PK rupees 35,000) is demonstrated
to be less severely affected than the low earning study group. 17% of the parents
in the study admitted to having negative
impact of their child’s illness on their relationship while 40% of study participants
reveal their child is ignored/marginalized by relatives. About 80% of participants acknowledged
feeling sad and depressed sometimes but only 25% of them take antidepressant medication.