Background: Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive disease. According to the WHO data, there are 269 million carriers of thalassemia worldwide, out of which 40 million are in South East Asia.
Objectives: This study was conducted with the primary objective to assess demographic profile of patients with thalassemia at a tertiary care hospital of Bhopal along with morbidity pattern in them and economic burden on the patients family.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was carried out in the pediatric ward of Kamla Nehru Hospital of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Information regarding the patients sociodemographic profile, morbidity pattern, economic burden, and other relevant aspects was collected on a predesigned and pretested proforma from the parents or attendant of all the patients who visited the clinic or were admitted in Kamla Nehru Hospital during July 2014 to December 2014.
Results: During the study period, 180 children with thalassemia were identified. Of them, 61.7% were males and 38.3% were females, and 56.7% were diagnosed for thalassemia within first 6 months of age. Religion-wise distribution shows maximum cases 134 (74.4%) were Hindus followed by 37 (20.5%) Muslims, and 9 (5.0%) others. Children with thalassemia showed a higher frequency of illness as compared to their sibling with negative thalassemia history.
Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind in the setting of central India, and the results of this study will lead to increased awareness about the different aspects of thalassemia.
Key words: Thalassemia, illness, hospital
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