Assessment of the knowledge, perception and practice regarding Thalassemia prevention among medical students in Ajman University

Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed through families; it’s chronic inherited anemia can be passed from parents to the kids, at least one of the parents must be carrier of the thalassemia. It’s genetic disorder it’s caused by either a genetic mutation or a deletion of certain key gene fragments.

The overall aim of this study is to improve our understanding regarding the thalassemia knowledge and believes among dentistry and pharmacy students of Ajman University (AU).

This is a cross-sectional s study designed carried out among convenience sample of Ajman university dentistry and pharmacy students. The survey was carried out by using a self-administrated questionnaire. The later was composed into demographic, socio-economic, and knowledge and believes towards Thalassemia.

A total of 257 subjects participated in the study and completed the whole questionnaire. The study demonstrates satisfactory level of knowledge and awareness towards Thalassemia. Older participants, who were in the last years of study, non-vegetarians, who had relatives with thalassemia and who had seen thalassemia patients scored better in knowledge and awareness towards Thalassemia.

Dentistry and pharmacy student do not practice the concept of safe health precautions in spite of having adequate knowledge, therefore education is not enough to change the population behavior with regarding thalassemia concept. However, they are with the compulsory screening, abortion and directive counselling in UAE.