Investigating epidemiologic status of thalassemic patients in Hormozgan province in 2011

Background: Iran is a country located on the thalassemic belt of the globe. Investigating such issues is of a greater significance in southern provinces of thecountry where the high prevalence of thalassemia has imposed high costs and mental pressure on families and the healthcare system.Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2011 as a census, the data related to patients or disease carriers were gathered from the Center ofSpecial Diseases in Bandar Abbas Shahid Mohammadi Hospital which is a visiting center of many thalassemic patients in Hormozgan. The instrument usedwas a checklist. SPSS 16 was used to analyze the data with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: In this study, the medical records of 650 patients were examined. The most of them were afflicted with major thalassemia (60.4%, 393 subjects) andthe least number were afflicted with sickle cell thalassemia (0.9%, 6 subjects). The highest number of patients belonged respectively to Bandar Abbas (69%,449 subjects), while the lowest number was that of Jask town (0.5%, 3 subjects). Also statistics showed that the highest number of patients were those whoseparents had no prior family relationship (46.3%, 302 subjects).Conclusions: It seems that the prevention rate of this disease has been low in this province. The instructions essential for birth control has not been providedfor families. This requires great care and attention on the side of the authorities in charge.