Abstract
This study aimed to assess the quality of life of children (3-12 years) diagnosed with Thalassemia in Gaza Strip. A descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional design was used. All children 3-12 years old who were diagnosed with thalassemia and live in GS were included in the study (75 cases) with response rate (81.3%). Participants were interviewed by the researcher and completed the questionnaire which focused on quality of life of chronic diseases and included five domains. These domains are physical health, psychological health, social relationships, environment health and personal safety. Validity and reliability of the instrument were tested and the total instrument reliability test (Cronbach's Alpha) was 0.767. The scores for the study domains ranged between 2.81 for personal security domain and 3.66 for environmental health domain. Moreover, the study domains did not show statistically significant difference when compared by sex, living places, monthly income the relationship between parents and recurrent hospitalization. The findings of this study suggest the need of children diagnosed with thalassemia for support in all study domains. Health professionals need to work to minimize the disease's burdens. The current study calls the attention of health policy makers for new policies and new roles for the community health nurses and social workers. The study also revealed that there is a bad need to pay more attention when caring and dealing with thalassemia patients. Special food supplementation should be available in order to improve their physical health, more psychological support from their families and the society is needed. In addition, there is a need to provide safe environment and to enhance personal safety of these children.
Highlights
Thalassemia is considered one of the most common known hereditary blood disorders in mankind quantitatively affecting the synthesis of human hemoglobin
The study included all children between three and 12 years old who were diagnosed with thalassemia and live in Gaza Strip (GS)
This study was conducted to evaluate the level of quality of life for children between 3 to 12 years old who were diagnosed with thalassemia and live in Gaza Strip
Summary
Thalassemia is considered one of the most common known hereditary blood disorders in mankind quantitatively affecting the synthesis of human hemoglobin. At least 60,000 severely affected individuals are born every year. Thalassemia has been encountered practically in every racial group and geographical location in the world. It is more common among individuals originating from tropical and subtropical regions [1] and it is considered a serious public health issues in the Mediterranean area [2]. Thalassemia is a chronic disease that poses a range of clinical and psychological challenges. ; heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, liver disease, endocrine disease, and increased susceptibility to infection are common complications among children diagnosed with thalassemia [4]
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