Family planning practices in couples with children affected by β‑thalassemia major and its relationship with their education: An epidemiological study
نویسندگان
1 Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health
2 Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health
3 Department of Pathology, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital
4 Departments of Public Health Administration and
5 Department of Community Medicine, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
6
doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Although prevention the birth of children with β‑thalassemia major (β‑TM) is animportant health issue, it is rarely explored. With this background, the study was designed to findfamily planning practices and related factors of couples with children affected by β‑TM.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross‑sectional, observational study, conducted among324 parents with children affected by β‑TM attending a tertiary care health facility in Eastern India.Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression using SPSS.RESULTS: Of 324 parents, 89.5% were sexually active, 44.8% of which were currently usingfamily planning method to prevent the birth of another child with the oral contraceptive pill mostpreferred (46.9%) followed by tubectomy (33.9%). Those who were sexually active, but not desirous ofa child were 223, of which 41.7% had the unmet need for family planning with religious belief (41.9%)being the most predominant reason followed by unaware of methods (26.9%). In multivariableanalysis, religion, caste, per capita monthly income, mothers’ education level, and working statuswere significant predictors of unmet need for family planning adjusted with others.CONCLUSIONS: Burden of unmet need for family planning among the study population wasalarmingly high. Parents of the thalassemic children should be counseled in easily comprehensiblelocal language to increase the rate of contraception among them.
