ABSTRACT
Background : Thalassemia is a hereditary anemia which is an important health problem of Thailand. About 30-40% of population are carriers while 1% of them are diseases. There were 1,000 thalassemia patients who received medical care at the out patient department of Srinagarind hospital per year. Screening pregnant women for thalassemia carriers or diseases and hemoglobinopathy is one method in controlling thalassemia.Objective : 1. To study the acceptance of screening for thalassemia in first trimester pregnant women. 2. To study the relation of demograpfic factors, history of preterm labor, family history of thalassemia, with screening acceptance and husbands’s acceptance of screenings and analytical.Design : Descriptive studySetting : Obstetric and Gynecology out patient department, Srinagarind Hospital.Subjects : The 299 first trimester pregnant women who had a first prenatal visit between 29 january and 31 July 1996 were chosen for the study.Measurements : Data was collected by questionnaires after the study group had received the information about thalassemia from brochures. The percentage, mean values and Chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for data analysis.Results : The first trimester pregnant women who accepted screening were 295 cases (98.7%). There were no factures that significantly affected acceptance. Of the 155 positive screening pregnant women, 124(80%) had their partner tested. The family income was the factor that affected partners’ acceptance.Conclusions : These results indicate that the acceptance of screening for thalassemia in the first trimester pregnant women including the acceptane of testing their partners when positive screening was high. This could be one of the effective methods in the thalassemia prevention program.
ABSTRACT
Background: Genetic amniocentesis (AC) is a method of prenatal diagnosis (PND) for fetal chromosomal abnormalities and method for prevention and control of genetic diereses. Pregnant women who do not understand this method will have anxiety and may be refuse the procedures. The preparatory information probably reduce the anxiety and increase the acceptance of AC clients.Objective: To study the result of the preparatory information in anxiety level, knowledge and attitudes of AC clientsStudy designs: Randomized controlled trialSetting: Outpatient department, Srinagarind hospital, faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.Methods: The study included 70 pregnant women who had undergone AD from January to October 1997 and randomly assigned into control (35 cases) and study group (35 cases).Measurement: The AC clients (both control and study groups) was requested to compldete questionnaires before and after procedures. The completed questionnaires were examined by microcomputer (SPSS/pc+ program) and analysed using analysis of covariance and t-testResults: The AC clients who received the preparatory information (study group) had less anxiety level, more knowledge and better attitudes than control group significantly (P