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International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Abstract

Background: Knowledge about hemoglobinopathies in the general public is unsatisfactory. Many couples are unaware of their carrier status and a child can be born with unexpected, serious hemoglobinopathies. Willingness to participate in screening programs can substantially help in bringing down the birth of children affected with hemoglobinopathies. To understand the knowledge, attitude, and perception of the general public on various hemoglobinopathies and their pregnancy outcomes we performed a questionnaire-based descriptive survey. Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee and validation by an expert panel we circulated a Google form consisting of 21 questions via WhatsApp which was made available for 3 months. Efforts were made to collect as many responses as possible. The responses were extracted onto a Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed. Results: It was observed that though the majority of the population from various sectors of India agreed on the importance of early detection, only about 75.5% would consider signing up for screening themselves. Around 33.6% percent of the participants had not even heard about hemoglobinopathies and about 92.7% of the participants felt the need for the availability of more easily accessible information on the topic. Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a need for more awareness programs among the general public as well as better access to information on hemoglobinopathies so that the implications of being affected are clearly understood, and strategies for prevention by timely screening can be strengthened.

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