A Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Thalassemia: A Cross-Sectional Study Among University Students in Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

Background & objectives: The most common and potentially fatal single-gene hereditary disorder affecting the manufacture of hemoglobin is thalassemia, which results from one or more globin chains fail to synthesize properly, either completely or partially. This disorder is prevalent worldwide in different regions including Pakistan. The relevance of the disorder necessitates that thalassemia and its prevention measures be widely known to the general public. This research sought to evaluate the perceptions and knowledge of thalassemia among Swat university students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional KAP survey was done on university students of different departments using a structured questionnaire consisted of 37 questions. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for social sciences (IBM SPSS). 200 university students participated in our study including both genders. Results: Upon assessment of Attitude, Knowledge, Practice, the results deduced students understanding of the thalassemia showed a significant variance (P=0.04). Interpretation & conclusions: This study has identified that there is inadequate knowledge about thalassemia (less than 50%). The attitude was very positive but better understanding and practices are required to overcome knowledge gaps and societal misperceptions about thalassemia