Physical aspects of school age children with thalassemia major in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf

الملخص EN

Thalassemia major is a prevalent hereditary disease in Mediterranean region, the assessment of physical aspectof school age children,especially in those with chronic illness such as thalassemia is particularly important.

The Objectives of this study is to assess physical aspect of school age children with thalassemia major andto found out the magnitude association between physical aspect and their demographic characteristics and their clinical characteristics.

A Non Probability "purposive" sample of (100) school age children with thalassemia major and their parents are included in the present study.

Researcher constructed special questioner to achieve objectives of the present study.

Validity of the study instrument was determined through the panel of experts and the reliability of the study questionnaire was determined through Alpha correlation coefficient was computed for the determination of the internal consistency reliability which was α = 0.87 for the standardized alpha of the internal scale of the assessment of child physical aspects and α= 0.91 for standardized Alpha of the internal scale of the assessment of parents proxy information.

Data analyses through use descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistical analysis procedures(t-test ,chi squire, and P- value) were used to data analysis.

The present study results indicated that there was a significant relationship between thalassemia major and their physical aspects.

The study concluded that the majority of the study sample of thalassemic childrenhad negative impact on physical aspects.In addition,non-significant differences between child and their parents regard to the overall physical aspects.

The study recommends that a physical physician and psychologist should be present in all thalassemia centers in order to help in promotion a relationship between children, school representatives, the families, and the doctors and health oriented mass media should an important role in providing information to population about thalassemia and other inherited diseases.