SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS;

Abstract

Background: Thalassemic children require regular multiple blood transfusions.It leads to multiple complications such as blood born infections, iron over load (Haemosidrosis)and spleen enlargement. Thalassemia transmission to future generations can be preventedand life of thalassemic children can also be prolonged by proper devoted pre-marital and intrauterine life management and mitigation of fatal complications. Objectives: The objective ofthis study was to assess the socio-demographic determinants of thalassemic children. StudyDesign: Descriptive study. Setting: Thalassemia Centre Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur.Period: One year from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Material and Method: Parents/guardians of 200 diagnosed children as thalassemic, who were receiving blood transfusionswere selected for interview. The data was collected by Pre- designed Performa to assess sociodemographicdeterminants. The data was analyzed to formulate hypothesis. Results: It wasfound that maximum number of patients coming for blood transfusion were from 7-9 years and10 years and above contributing 30% each while 4-6 years were 24% showing that majority ofpeople seeking for frequent blood transfusion service were over 4 years of age in this area. Atleast one thalassemic child death was disclosed by 32 (16%) families. The birth order of thepresent thalassemic child as 2nd one was told by 60 (30%) parents. There were 72 (36%) comingfrom distance <20 km which shows maximum utility of this center by local area population. Itwas found that 104 (52%) belong to poor socio-economic class. There were 188 (94%) childrenreceiving blood transfusion from teaching hospital blood transfusion center where as 100(50%) blood donors were unknown people. There were 104 (52%) children who were neverchecked for Hepatitis C virus markers while 116 (58%) mothers were illiterate. Regular use ofiron chelating therapy was found to be 8% only. There were 128 (64%) marriages proposed byparents and 72 (36%) enforced by grand elders resulting 144 (72%) marriages with first cousins.There were 160 (80%) consanguineous marriages and 188 (94%) without premarital thalassemiatest. There were 142 (71%) new born deliveries without prenatal thalassemia test. Conclusion:The enforced consanguineous marriages, lack of pre- marital and pre-natal diagnosis, poverty,illiteracy and lack of iron chelating agent support are the thalassemia problem exaggeratingfactors. Reducing magnitude of these problems can mitigate over load and socio-demographicconstraints of thalassemic patients in our country.