Impact of Education on Awareness Towards Reproductive Health in Women With Beta-Thalassemia Major

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of nursing educational programs on the awareness of females with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) regarding their disease and reproductive health. Methods: Thirty-nine consecutive female patients with β-TM (age range between 20 and 32 years) participated in this interventional pre-post study. All patients attended the Thalassemia Clinic of Dastgheib hospital, a referral governmental center in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Awareness of patients regarding reproductive health was evaluated by a designed questionnaire. The intervention consisted of nursing educational program regarding important issues related to reproductive health of female patients with beta-TM. Knowledge of patients was revaluated and compared with their knowledge before education. Data were analyzed using SPSS software v.21 using Paired t-test, Pearson correlation test and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Total awareness score significantly increased after education (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 16.12 ± 1.67 vs. 13.69 ± 2.35, P < 0.001). Increased knowledge of patients after the intervention was not significantly associated with educational level or with age of the patients (P = 0.058 and P = 0.395, respectively). Conclusions: An educational program can be helpful in increasing awareness of females with β-TM regarding their disease and reproductive health issues resulting in increased life expectancy and quality of life.