Assessment of Level of Parental Understanding of Thalassemia in Children Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in District Poonch, Azad Kashmir

Background:Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder with a high burden in Pakistan, particularly in areas with prevalent consanguineous marriages and limited health literacy. Awareness regarding its genetic transmission and preventive measures among caregivers is crucial for effective disease control. The present study aimed to assess the level of awareness about thalassemia and its prevention among parents of children diagnosed with beta-thalassemia. Methodology:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pediatric Department of CMH Rawalakot from July 2022 to January 2023. A total of 102 parents of beta-thalassemia patients were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics, disease knowledge, and sources of information. Associations were analyzed using the chi-square test in SPSS version 25. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:While 64.7% of parents knew thalassemia was a genetic disorder, awareness about preventive measures was limited—only 37.3% had heard of premarital screening, and 28.4% knew of prenatal diagnostic options. Education level was significantly associated with awareness of genetic transmission (p = 0.0017), and urban residence was linked to better knowledge of premarital screening (p = 0.0001). Healthcare professionals were the primary source of information (56.9%). Conclusion:Parental awareness about thalassemia remains inadequate, especially concerning prevention. Education and residence are key determinants of awareness. Targeted awareness campaigns and integration of genetic counseling into pediatric care are urgently needed in high-risk regions like Azad Kashmir.