6-11
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THALASSEMIA IN DIYALA PROVINCE, IRAQ
Authors: Dr. Kareem Assi Obaid
Number of views: 456
Abstract
Background: Beta-thalassemia major is a chronic disorder of blood, having an extensive impact on the
affected child. It involves lifelong therapeutic regime, with repeated blood transfusions. With improved
life expectancy, due to improved medical management psychosocial aspects of thalassemia are
gaining importance.
Objectives: Thalassemia is a chronic disease that manifests early in life that it leads to psychological
and social problems for parents .We focused on parents to assess the impact of their child’s disease
and to assess the behavioral problems in multi-transfused thalassemic children and psychosocial factors
affecting them.
Material and methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted in the Thalassemia Centre of Al-batool
teaching hospital, Diyala, Iraq. The study was carried out from August 2013 to April 2014, parents who
fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The criteria were: a) established diagnosis of
thalassemia of their child and the child was registered with the Thalassemia Centre for regular blood
transfusion, b) parents who provided consent for the study
Results: The CBCL total scores were high in 32% patients, indicating the presence of behavioral problems.
Higher CBCL scores were found in children of older age group, those with poor school performance,
whose mothers' education was more than eighth standard, had history of death of thalassemic
relative in family, greater duration of diagnosed illness, poor pre-transfusion hemoglobin level, and
who had longer periods of school absenteeism.
Conclusions: Behavioral problems are common in multi-transfused thalassemic children. Early diagnosis
and intervention of behavioral problems in these children would make them cope with thalassemia
better.