INTRODUCTION
Thalassemia is a chronic disease caused by genetic
hemoglobinopathy contributing to a chronic illness in children.
The incidence of thalassemia is highest in developing
countries, specifically in Southeast Asia (Weatherall, 2011).
In the eastern region of Thailand, 13% of children were
diagnosed with thalassemia, which is ranked as the second
greatest health problem among chronically ill children
(Wacharasin et al., 2008).The occurrence of this chronic condition
might relate to labor migration from northeastern
Thailand.
Thailand healthcare services recognize the challenges and
consequences of thalassemia and have set the protocols for
thalassemia prevention and controls as a national agenda
(Englezos, 2013). Childhood and infant mortality have been
reduced due to improved public health measures and treatments,
but large numbers of children still suffer from
thalassemia due to inappropriate health care.The treatments
include health education, daily regular treatments of folic
acid, high protein and low iron diet, iron chelation, routine
health checkups, lifelong packed red cell transfusions, and
sometimes a spleenectomy and stem cell transplantation.The
care of children during and following these treatments
requires a high level of empowerment and functioning
among family caregivers.
INTRODUCTIONThalassemia is a chronic disease caused by genetichemoglobinopathy contributing to a chronic illness in children.The incidence of thalassemia is highest in developingcountries, specifically in Southeast Asia (Weatherall, 2011).In the eastern region of Thailand, 13% of children werediagnosed with thalassemia, which is ranked as the secondgreatest health problem among chronically ill children(Wacharasin et al., 2008).The occurrence of this chronic conditionmight relate to labor migration from northeasternThailand.Thailand healthcare services recognize the challenges andconsequences of thalassemia and have set the protocols forthalassemia prevention and controls as a national agenda(Englezos, 2013). Childhood and infant mortality have beenreduced due to improved public health measures and treatments,but large numbers of children still suffer fromthalassemia due to inappropriate health care.The treatmentsinclude health education, daily regular treatments of folicacid, high protein and low iron diet, iron chelation, routinehealth checkups, lifelong packed red cell transfusions, andsometimes a spleenectomy and stem cell transplantation.Thecare of children during and following these treatmentsrequires a high level of empowerment and functioningamong family caregivers.
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