Causes and Attitude of Husbands toward Thalassemic Carrier Screening Test When Their Partners Have Abnormal Screening Tests
Chutawadi Vuthiwong MD*, Prisana Panichkul MD*, Peerapun Punpuckdeekoon MD*
Affiliation : * Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To assess the attitude of husbands toward the thalassemic carrier screening test and to explore the causes of non-
participation of having a blood test.
Study design : Descriptive study.
Material and Method: During 2007-2008, 100 husbands of pregnant women with screening-positive test for thalassemia
who refused to have blood test were enrolled by voluntariness. They would fill out a structured questionnaire designed for the
present study which was divided into 3 parts; (1) participant’s personal characteristics (2) their attitudes toward thalassemic
carrier screening test with the score ranging from 1-5, and (3) reasons for their refusal of having a blood test.
Results : The husbands had a favorable attitude toward testing for thalassemia, with overall mean score and standard
deviation of 3.57 and 0.38. Commonly expressed reasons against testing were the self-belief of having a non-affected child
and the inconvenience of coming to the hospital.
Conclusion : Husbands had a favorable attitude toward test for thalassemia.
Keywords : Husband, Thalassemia, Attitude
